In the Netherlands, the wording of direct discrimination (literal translation: direct distinction) includes associated discrimination. Art. 1 of the Equal Treatment Act prohibits direct discrimination “on the basis of” the grounds for protection, and not with specific reference to persons, hence the wording here allows for the interpretation of associated discrimination.

In 2011, a case concerning associated discrimination was heard by the Dutch Equal Treatment Committee (Comissie gelijke behandeling). An employee’s fixed-term contract was not renewed after he was late for work several times because he was taking care of his sick paraplegic wife. The Equal Treatment Committee declared that the non-renewal of the employment contract was a case of associated discrimination on the ground of disability.