Amsterdam and Rotterdam’s big teaching hospitals have been added to a list of places where new mothers can leave their babies anonymously, because they feel unable to look after them.

The foundation Stichting Beschermde Wieg, which helps women in such as position, now has a total of 13 places where babies can be left in safety. Another four hospitals have also said they will also provide a foundling room.

The rooms can be accessed anonymously and the babies left in a cradle, or women can ask for the help of a nurse.

The foundation hopes new mothers will use the rooms instead of leaving babies outside where they are in danger of dying. In 2021 ago a live baby was found in an underground rubbish container in Amsterdam, and a dead baby was pulled out of  the Lek river in March last year.

“It’s great that these big hospitals are providing places for desperate mother to go to,” Barbara Muller of Stichting Beschermde Wieg told broadcaster NOS. “The last couple of years have sadly shown that there is a need for these rooms.”

Up to two babies a year are abandoned in the Netherlands every year, figures show.

Abandoning a child is illegal but some five years ago the government decided to allow the rooms to protect the children from a worse fate. Most of the 2000 women who have sought help since 2014 when the foundation started its work have decided to look after their child themselves.