Guardianship and Temporary Placement in International Child Affairs in Rijswijk
In Rijswijk, near The Hague, guardianship is often used as an interim measure for crisis placements or for asylum children from war zones. This fundamentally differs from adoption and falls under the Youth Act and the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, with coordination by the local Child Protection Board in The Hague.
Legal Frameworks in Rijswijk
- Youth Act arts. 36-41 (guardianship, applied by District Court of The Hague for Rijswijk).
- Hague Guardianship Convention 1996.
- Civil Code Book 1, arts. 1:251-257.
- Local guidelines Child Protection Board The Hague-Rijswijk.
Guardianship Procedure in Rijswijk
- Appointment of guardians: District Court of The Hague appoints foster guardians from Rijswijk network.
- Temporary placement: Maximum 2 years in recognised Rijswijk foster families, extendable after evaluation.
- Transition to adoption: Possible after extensive screening by local authorities.
Differences with Adoption
| Aspect | Guardianship | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Temporary, with Rijswijk supervision | Full and permanent |
| Biological rights | Remain in existence | Fully terminated |
In Rijswijk this is particularly relevant for refugee children via CA-IKA and local reception in the Haaglanden region. Costs are lower: €4,500-€12,000, with subsidies via the municipality of Rijswijk.