Utrecht discontinues "sleeping fines" for homeless people

De Brauw, in collaboration with PILP, successfully assisted Stichting GOUD in challenging the municipality of Utrecht's practice of issuing fines to homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces. Fining homeless people solely for something as fundamental as sleeping outside, especially with the city's lack of proper access to shelters, violates fundamental human rights.

Following a letter last year, the ensuing dialogue with the municipal executive, and the lobbying of political parties in the city council, the council voted on 26 Februrary to remove the legal basis for these fines from the general local ordinance (APV).

We are grateful to PILP and Stichting GOUD for their collaboration and for the important work they do on behalf of Utrecht's most vulnerable residents.

For those interested: watch the debate here (in Dutch): Agenda Utrecht - Gemeenteraad donderdag 26 februari 2026 (08:03:30 – 08:11:02)