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Mayor Els van Doesburg causes outrage with remarks about motherhood

Antwerp's Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) has sparked intense reactions with comments about motherhood in 'Humo.'

3 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Mayor Els van Doesburg causes outrage with remarks about motherhood — Archive photoPhoto: Vlaams Parlement · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mayor Els van Doesburg of Antwerp (N-VA) made a call in an interview with the magazine 'Humo' for people to have as many children as possible. Her statement urging individuals to focus primarily on baby-making has led to considerable outrage on social media.

The call resulted in sharp responses from various individuals, including well-known fry shop owner Dorien Nuyts, who labeled van Doesburg as 'privileged' and 'out of touch with reality.' Nuyts added that the mayor does not understand the challenges many families face.

Experts have speculated about the motivation behind van Doesburg's remarks, with some suggesting that this statement aligns with her personality.

In the wake of the uproar, van Doesburg responded. She emphasized that the 'all-encompassing love of a child' should not be downplayed. Her remark seems to point to a deeper emotional value attributed to motherhood.

Reactions to her statement were not only found on social media. The topic has also reached various news platforms, such as VRT NWS and HLN, where the impact of her words is further discussed.

It is evident that the mayor's comment has provoked a wide range of responses and reignited the debate around motherhood and family life in the Netherlands.

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