Ex on holiday without children without permission?

Questioner

I have been divorced for 12 years, now I found out yesterday that my ex is leaving on holiday next Thursday without the children, the children will come back to me next Sunday, but will they be left alone for 4 days and have to take care of themselves, they are boys of 15 and 17 and can really manage on their own but 4 days? This was also done without any consultation with me, they were not asked whether they could come home earlier, nothing, and my question is is this allowed because both children are still minors

Lawyer

As a parent in the Netherlands, you do indeed have the legal responsibility for the care and upbringing of your minor children. Your ex-partner's departure on holiday without the children and without consulting you can certainly be a worrying situation. According to Dutch personal and family law, parents have joint custody of their minor children, even after a divorce. This means that important decisions regarding the children, such as travel, medical treatment, etc., must in principle be made jointly. If your ex-partner leaves the children alone for a longer period of time without your permission, this can be seen as a violation of joint custody. In a situation like this, it is important to contact your ex-partner immediately to discuss the situation and try to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of the children. If no agreement is reached, you can seek legal advice from a lawyer specialized in personal and family law. It is also advisable to contact the Youth and Family Centre (CJG) in your municipality. They can offer support and, if necessary, work with you and your ex-partner to find a solution that is in the best interests of the children. It is important that the best interests of the children always come first. If the children are able to look after themselves and feel safe during this time, there may be no immediate danger to their well-being. However, if you have any concerns about their safety, health or well-being during this time of being alone, it is important to take action and discuss this with the relevant authorities. Please contact 040 - 2350422 or send an email to info@echtscheidingswinkel.nl to schedule a completely free intake interview or for any questions.