Dutch Health Minister Orders Investigation into Sperm Donor Scandal, but Questions Remain Over 2017 Tip

For internationals living in the Netherlands, the case of mass sperm donor Simon – who has now admitted to fathering at least 199 children – is more than a shocking numbers game. It’s a story about systemic regulatory failure that left families, including many with non-Dutch backgrounds, in the dark for years.

On 29 August 2026, Simon, a 43-year-old from the Groningen region, sent a letter to parents that was obtained by news outlet Nieuwsuur. In it, he confessed to having fathered at least 199 children across Europe: 172 in the Netherlands, 15 in Germany, 11 in Belgium, and one in another European country NOS. One woman is still pregnant. Simon said he has now stopped donating sperm and is seeking professional guidance NL Times.

The revelation came just days after Nieuwsuur first reported that Simon had fathered 121 children – a number that shocked even experts. The reality, it turns out, is far worse. Simon used multiple aliases (Jesse, Johan, Daan, Sam, Maarten) and donated both through fertility clinics and privately, often via internet forums. He acknowledged in his letter that he “did not always provide openness” about the scale of his donations, leaving parents with an “incomplete or distorted picture.”

What this means for expat families For internationals who used sperm banks or private donors in the Netherlands, the case raises uncomfortable questions about traceability and legal status. Children born from Simon’s donations may face complications when it comes to inheritance rights, citizenship, or even future relationships – the risk of unintentional incest between half-siblings is real. While Dutch law limits sperm donors to fathering children for a maximum of 12 families (changed from 25 in 2022), Simon operated largely outside the system. Expats who moved to the Netherlands specifically for its advanced fertility care may wonder: was my donor vetted properly?

Government knew since 2017 The most damaging aspect of the scandal is that the Ministry of Health received a tip about Simon already in August 2017 – when he was still active – but did nothing [Source 1]. Then-minister Edith Schippers chose not to search the register of all fertility clinics for potential mass donors. Two years later, Simon even sat on a government advisory committee evaluating the donor law. Health Minister Sophie Hermans now says she “regrets” that, but she has been vague about why the 2017 signal was ignored. In parliamentary answers on 25 September 2026, Hermans pointed to a ‘signal’ that, she claims, could only be confirmed as a mass donor in 2025 NOS. She did not explain why other donors, like Jonathan Meijer, were investigated while Simon was not.

A large investigation – but results after 2030 Hermans has announced a broad investigation into misconduct at fertility clinics, responding to a request from the Tweede Kamer (the Dutch lower house of parliament) made last May. But the results won’t be expected until before 2030. For parents and children waiting for clarity, that deadline feels far away. Meanwhile, the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) has already started investigating whether Simon fathered children in Belgium [NL Times].

The bigger picture The Simon case is not an isolated incident. The Netherlands has seen several mass sperm donors in the past, including Jonathan Meijer, who fathered hundreds of children via international donations. The government has been slow to tighten regulations, partly because many donations happen privately, outside the reach of fertility clinics. For expats, who often rely on private arrangements due to language barriers or waiting lists, this lack of oversight is especially concerning.

As the investigation unfolds, one question remains unanswered: how many more Simons are out there? The Health Ministry has not committed to a full audit of all known donors. For now, parents and children – whether Dutch or international – can only wait.