Nelson Maatman

Nelson Maatman

Nelson Maatman is a young, second-wave MAP activist from the Netherlands, and chair of the PNVD.

He is currently under investigation for supposed links with the banned political organization, Vereniging MARTIJN, which ceased operation before he became active as a campaigner. He has been known to have left the country at some point, and this has been characterized as "fleeing" the country. In 2022, it was revealed that he was seeking asylum in Mexico, following his trial in the Netherlands.

Maatman has become infamous after seeking to make an appearance at Amsterdam’s annual Pride march in the summer of 2019. He devised a social experiment whereby he attempted to bring back the tradition of advocating for children’s and paedophiles’ rights at Pride events. He was barred, and has since appealed to human rights organizations. He has also taken part in an infamous television interview, in which he made provocative statements about sexual relationships between adults and minors. He was soon-after arrested under statutes on illegal images, but no evidence has thusfar been indicated.

2021 Prosecution

In March 2021, Marthijn Uittenbogaard announced that he, Maatman, Norbert de Jonge and Ad van den Berg were being prosecuted for allegedly participating in a criminal organisation. The evidence offered by the prosecution is spurious, alleging that Twitter comments and the maintenance of an academic website constitute the continuation of an organisation deemed 'criminal' under a highly controversial Dutch law. On 12 March, 2022, a Dutch court sentenced both De Jonge and Uittenbogaard to prison for continuing Martijn's political activities. Maatman will be assigned new judges because of a mistake by the district court, but then sought asylum in Mexico for 3-4 months.

Dramatic arrest in Mexico, and deportation

In June, 2022, 27 year old Maatman was finally captured at his address in Mexico City, following tip-offs from the Netherlands-based Free a Girl Foundation. News reports erroneously claimed that he was a "child predator" who founded the PNVD, and was the leader of a far-reaching Youth Erotica ring. Police claimed to have found cocaine, a gun and large amounts of Youth Erotica on Maatman, the latter of which might be somewhat questionable given he was already trying to evade capture, and that Mexican Law Enforcement have a history of planting evidence. Maatman is likely to be deported to The Netherlands, without charges being laid.

External Links

• Tom O'Carroll - With some information in English - source used in this article.