A baby has been handed over to a special charity for mothers who want to give up their children and keep the birth secret for the first time since it was founded, broadcaster NOS says on Tuesday.

The child was taken last week to one of four locations set up by the charity where babies can be left safely by their mothers, NOS says. It is a criminal offence in the Netherlands to abandon a baby.

In this case, the mother got in touch with the confidential helpline run by the Stichting Beschermde Wieg or ‘protected cradle foundation’. The baby was then handed over in secret to foundation volunteers in Groningen.

The sex of the child is being kept secret but the baby has been checked over in a hospital and is in good health, NOS says. The mother has a six-month period during which she can change her mind about giving the child away, before it is adopted.

The mother has left information about herself in a sealed envelope which is being kept by a lawyer. The child can ask for the information on reaching the age of 16.

NOS says the police have been in touch with the foundation but it is not yet clear if the charity will face prosecution.

One or two babies are abandoned by their mothers in the Netherlands every year.

The child protection council said it was aware of the case but wants to know exactly what happened.