The Ministerie van Volksgezondheid en Milieuhygiebe states [14] that "in the past the Dutch Government has promoted several thorough studies to investigate and evaluate data on the benefits and disadvantages of fluoridation.

These studies, held with the supervision of the National Health Council, led unanimously to the conclusion that adjusted fluoridation of public water supplies prevents to a high degree tooth decay and - with a correct dosage - has no detrimental effect on public health.

Fluoridation of public water supplies, which amounted to about 20% of the drinking water, came to an end by a Royal Decree of 31 August 1976, cancelled another Royal Decree (1960) opening the possibility of fluoridation.

In 1973 the High Court declared in a case in that matter that fluoridation was illegal, i.e. not based on a formal law. In the High Court's opinion, the above mentioned Royal Decree of 1960 was not a sufficient as a basis for such an important measure as fluoridation of public water supplies" [14].

The Government then tried to change the law in order to make fluoridation legally possible. After lenghty formal and informal discussions, "objections remained, and the bill was withdrawn from Parliament in early 1976 when it became evident it would be rejected by the majority".

The major objection in Parliament was "that no alternative provisions for those who objected against fluoridated drinking water were available or acceptable" [14]. ‏^[2]