In a landscape defined for years by agonizingly long waiting lists and systemic barriers, a significant ray of hope has officially emerged for transgender and gender-diverse youth in the Netherlands this month.
As of January 2026, a new specialized care provider has launched under the name De Majorettes. A relaunch of the former JIJ-Genderzorg Jeugd, operating under the umbrella of mental health organization BuroJIJ, this initiative promises not just much-needed extra capacity, but an innovative approach aimed at slashing bureaucratic delays.
De Majorettes is immediately offering care in three key locations, expanding access outside the traditional centers:
- Amsterdam
- Utrecht
- Loon op Zand (North Brabant)
Hacking the Bureaucracy
For the queer community in the Netherlands, the struggle to access gender-affirming care is often less about finding a doctor and more about navigating the administrative maze. Since 2015, youth care has been the responsibility of individual municipalities (gemeenten), leading to a "postcode lottery" of availability and complex contracting processes that slow everything down.
The most significant aspect of De Majorettes' launch is their attempt to bypass this red tape. Instead of waiting for municipalities to set up complex individual tenders, De Majorettes is offering care via a simplified purchasing model consisting of two fixed "care products."
According to the directors, this cuts out the lengthy negotiation phase. In theory, this means that once a municipality agrees to fund care for a specific youth, treatment can begin almost immediately, removing months of waiting time spent in administrative limbo.
Important Context: The "Chain of Care"
For parents and youth navigating the Dutch system, it is crucial to understand exactly what role De Majorettes plays in the wider transition timeline.
Operating under the Youth Act (Jeugdwet), De Majorettes provides the essential psychological and diagnostic trajectory. This includes:
- Identity exploration and counseling.
- Family support and systemic therapy.
- The formal diagnosis (GD) required to proceed further.
Notably, BuroJIJ is known for its expertise in supporting neurodivergent youth (such as those with autism or ADHD) alongside their gender journey, offering a highly tailored approach.
Note on Medical Care: De Majorettes does not provide medical interventions. Under Dutch law, the municipality pays for the psychological part (Jeugdwet), while medical steps like puberty blockers or hormones are covered by health insurance (Zorgverzekeringswet) and provided by hospitals or specialized clinics. De Majorettes acts as the crucial gatekeeper; they provide the diagnosis and the "green light" required to be referred to a medical endocrinologist.
Community Welcome
Patient advocacy organization Transvisie has publicly welcomed the development. They expressed satisfaction that BuroJIJ has found a way to offer this vital gender care within the framework of the Jeugdwet, ensuring it remains accessible to minors without private costs.
How to Access Care
For youth under 18 wishing to access care at De Majorettes, the route remains through the standard Dutch referral system:
- Visit your General Practitioner (Huisarts).
- Request a referral: Ask specifically for a referral to "De Majorettes" for gender healthcare.
- Municipality Approval: This doctor’s referral is then used to request final payment approval (a beschikking) from your local municipality.
With the new simplified model in place as of this month, the hope across the community is that this final step will no longer be the bottleneck it once was.
