Over 500 people who were the victims of sexual or physical abuse as children while under the care of youth social workers have been awarded damages under a government compensation scheme, broadcaster NOS said on Saturday.

In total, just under 900 people applied for compensation and some €4.8m has been paid out to 537 people, NOS said.

The door was opened to compensation claims after a government commission said the government was aware of the abuse in foster homes and orphanages from 1945 but that nothing was done.

‘You can hardly imagine how long that sexual abuse went on and how serious it was,’ Jan van Dijk, who heads the commission awarding the payouts said. Victims can be awarded up to €100,000 depending on the severity of the abuse.

Evidence

In 183 cases the commission said there was not enough evidence that the abuse had taken place and Van Dijk criticized the conditions which had been placed on the claim procedure.

‘The toughest and most unfair condition is that you had to tell your legal guardian if you were being abused by your foster father,’ he said. Children who were being abused were reluctant to speak out because they had been warned to be quiet, Van Dijk said.

Barth van Eeten, chairman of a lobby group set up by abuse victims, said that another condition – proof the abuse took place – is also difficult to prove after so many years.