General ban on garments covering the face

The Cabinet has adopted a proposal of Minister Verdonk for Immigration and Integration to submit, as soon as possible, a bill regarding a general ban on wearing garments covering the face in the (semi-) public space. The fact is that the Cabinet deems it inappropriate that garments covering the face – among which the burka – are worn in the public space, based on considerations of public order, security and the protection of (fellow) citizens. For the time being, the Cabinet will avail itself of the existing options to disallow garments covering the face in the (semi-) public space.

Source: Ministry of Justice press release, 17 November 2006