Survey: Nearly 1 in 10 Belgians Report Incest Victimization

A landmark national survey has found that approximately 9% of Belgians — more than one million people — report having been victims of incest, marking the first-ever nationally representative study on the issue in the country. Victim support associations are warning of a critical lack of familial, judicial, and healthcare support for survivors, calling the situation a “national emergency.”

Conducted by polling institute Dédicated between April 10 and 26, 2026, the survey commissioned by the collectives Patouche and Ensemble contre l’Inceste polled 2,007 Belgian adults with a maximum margin of error of 2.19%. The findings, published simultaneously by multiple Belgian media outlets on June 19, reveal a phenomenon that has long remained a “statistical blind spot.”

A Widespread but Hidden Crisis

Under the strict legal definition of incest under the Belgian Penal Code — which covers sexual acts committed against a minor by relatives up to the third degree (parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and nephews) — 7% of Belgians report being victims. When the definition is broadened to include cousins, who are currently excluded from the legal framework, the figure rises to 9%.

According to RTBF, the gender disparity is stark: 12% of women report being victims compared to 6% of men. Two-thirds of victims are women, while three-quarters of perpetrators are men.

Lise Fostier, a member of Collectif Patouche, said: “We knew it, and now we can no longer deny it — it’s a major phenomenon here too.” She added that the figures are likely underestimated, as the survey could not reach psychiatric inpatients, homeless individuals, those who died by suicide, or those still under traumatic amnesia.

Perpetrators and Patterns

Contrary to common assumptions, cousins are the most frequently cited perpetrators, accounting for 24% of cases overall and 29% for female victims. They are followed by uncles (23%), fathers (18%), and brothers (13%), according to RTL Info.

The abuse begins early: for one-third of victims under 55, the abuse started between the ages of 4 and 6. A full 88% of victims were minors when the abuse occurred. The nature of the abuse is severe — 86% suffered sexual assault, 45% experienced rape, and 45% were subjected to exhibitionism.

Nearly 29% of victims experienced a period of traumatic amnesia, a non-conscious defense mechanism where the brain blocks access to memories. For 15% of those, the amnesia lasted over 21 years.

A System Failing Survivors

The survey paints a troubling picture of how victims are treated when they do come forward. As Moustique reports, 40% of victims never disclosed the abuse to friends or family. Among those who did speak out, negative reactions were alarmingly common: 46% had their word questioned, 43% were asked to remain silent, 33% were accused of lying, and 30% were distanced or excluded from the family.

Legal recourse remains rare and often ineffective. Only 15% of victims (27 out of 181 surveyed) filed a complaint. Of those, just 10 led to trial and conviction, while 7 were dismissed without follow-up and 4 resulted in investigation but no trial.

Access to psychological care is critically insufficient: only one-quarter of victims had access to mental health support. “The figures are catastrophic,” Fostier told RTBF. “For example, only a quarter of people had access to psychological care.”

Regional and Social Dimensions

The survey found that incest affects all social classes equally, though regional differences emerged. The proportion of victims is highest in Brussels (14%), compared to Flanders (7%) and Wallonia (6%). One in four Belgians (25%) personally knows someone who has experienced incest, with women (31%) and 35-54 year-olds (34%) more likely to know a victim.

Calls for Urgent Action

The collectives behind the survey are using the findings to push for sweeping reforms. Their demands include expanding the legal definition of incest to include cousins and in-laws, facilitating reporting by professionals who suspect abuse, developing training programs for professionals, removing alleged aggressors from the family home upon disclosure, and establishing more psychological support structures.

“This report aims to break the silence, to be able to talk about it fairly while keeping in mind the scale of incest in Belgium,” Fostier said. “And then it will serve to support our demands.”

The associations describe a “lack of recognition” at the political level, with “not enough structures, not enough trained professionals, not enough resources.” As Belgium confronts these findings, the question now is whether the political will exists to translate data into meaningful action for the more than one million survivors the survey has brought into view.