About love matters

A Dutch take on sex

Love Matters provides easy-to-access information and news on sexuality and sexual health for teenagers and young adults around the world.

The Dutch have a reputation for open, honest, and non-judgmental attitudes towards sex. We balance this approach by working closely with regional partners to make sure our content is culturally appropriate and does not cause offense.

Honest and positive
We see sex as a wonderful thing to explore, share, and enjoy. And we think that if you provide young people with honest and positive information and news on sex, they’ll be more likely to have safer, healthier sex.

Which is exactly what you see in the Netherlands. Young Dutch people have sex at a later age compared to countries where sex is a taboo subject. What’s more, the Netherlands has some of the lowest rates of teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and abortion in the world.

Love Matters is produced by Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Team
Love Matters is coordinated by Michele Ernsting. The site is written or adapted by Michael Blass and Michelle Chakkalackal, and produced in collaboration with RIVM, STI AIDS Netherlands, and Pharos.

Michele Ernsting is the coordinator for Love Matters.

Michele:"I want to break through the myths and taboos about sex and relationships to give you information you can use to make the best possible decisions about your sexuality."

Michael Blass is a translator, web producer and journalist.

Michael: “In Dutch it’s easy to talk about sex in a matter-of-fact way, without sounding either like porn or a medical book. I’ve tried to do the same thing in English.”

Michelle Chakkalackal is a public health researcher.

Michelle: “I'd like to provide a more balanced approach to sexual health education. Sex is more than just how to avoid STDs, it's also about pleasure and love".

Louise Dunne is a journalist and Love Matters editor

Louise: “I think it should be easy for everyone to get the information they need to have healthy, satisfying sex lives without feeling guilty or ashamed.”

Vithika Yadav is Love Matters' Hindi web editor.

Vithika: “Satisfying and safe sex life is the right of every individual. I want to create an environment that is supportive and inclusive of people’s sexuality.”

Love Matters works in partnership with:

FPA India, the Family Planning Association India, works to promote sexual health and family planning in India. It’s the national affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

SOA AIDS Nederland, the Dutch expertise centre for HIV/AIDS and other STIs.

TARSHI (Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues) is an NGO based in New Delhi, India, which provides information on sexuality and reproductive health issues.

The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) promotes and supports sexology and sexual rights for all.

RIVM, The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), a leading expertise centre which works mainly for the Dutch government but also shares knowledge with governments and supranational bodies around the world.

Organisations we endorse:

IPPF, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, is a global service provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.