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Mothers horrified to learn sperm donor has fathered nearly 200 children
Reports out of the Netherlands reveal that a "mass sperm donor" is said to have fathered at least 199 children. The situation reveals one of the many problems with sperm donation and the fertility industry, which is widely unregulated.
A man known as "Simon" has reportedly fathered 199 children through sperm donation.
He is said to have lied to many women about the number of children he had fathered, and used various names throughout the process.
The Dutch Ministry of Health has reportedly been aware of his sperm donation practices since 2017, but did nothing to stop him.
Though the Netherlands passed regulations last year capping the maximum sperm donation at 12 children, authorities say there is nothing they can do, since Simon made his sperm donations privately.
A Dutch man, identified only as "Simon," revealed his situation in a letter sent to some of the parents who have used his sperm, according to the news outlet Nieuwsuur. In the letter, he admitted that he has fathered 199 children, with one woman currently pregnant; 179 of those children were born in the Netherlands, with others born in Belgium and Germany. Authorities are still working to determine the total number as women continue to come forward.
"I should have calculated the total number of donations much earlier, also for myself," Simon wrote in his letter. "The total number turns out to be higher than I had thought, hoped, or wanted."
The majority of those donations have been done privately, which means he did not utilize a fertility clinic.
Women with Simon's children have said that he lied about the number of children he has fathered, and used various names to identify himself, including Jesse, Johan, Daan, Sam, and Maarten. Though he claims he will stop donating and will seek professional guidance so that he can proceed in a "responsible and proper manner, in the interest of the children," many of the women don't believe it.
"The confidence that he will stop is below zero," remarked one mother.
Simon has been donating sperm since 2017; reportedly, the Ministry of Health was aware of his mass-donations, but did nothing to stop him. Shockingly, he was even placed on a committee to evaluate the sperm donor law. As part of that committee, he reportedly advocated for eliminating a cap of 25 children per sperm donor.
"This gentleman should of course never have taken a seat on the supervisory committee," Minister Sophie Hermans said. "I deeply regret that this happened anyway."
In 2025, the country tried to shore up its sperm donation regulations, dropping the 25 child limit down to 12. But as Simon's experience proves, the industry is still largely unregulated.
One mother tried to file a police complaint against him but was denied, as the Public Prosecution Service told her that, "according to the Donor Act, only fertility clinics or other healthcare professionals can be held criminally liable for violating the law."
Private donors like Simon are seemingly not subject to any regulation.
The effects are widespread: children living without a father actively present in their lives, and siblings living in the same area without even realizing that they are related (a situation that has even led to siblings unknowingly dating).
Ultimately, the real victims in this situation are the hundreds of children created as a commodity. Fathers matter.
Each child created deserves to have the love and attention of his or her biological mother and father.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
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·Mothers horrified to learn sperm donor has fathered nearly 200 children
Reports out of the Netherlands reveal that a "mass sperm donor" is said to have fathered at least 199 children. The situation reveals one of the many problems with sperm donation and the fertility industry, which is widely unregulated.
A man known as "Simon" has reportedly fathered 199 children through sperm donation.
He is said to have lied to many women about the number of children he had fathered, and used various names throughout the process.
The Dutch Ministry of Health has reportedly been aware of his sperm donation practices since 2017, but did nothing to stop him.
Though the Netherlands passed regulations last year capping the maximum sperm donation at 12 children, authorities say there is nothing they can do, since Simon made his sperm donations privately.
A Dutch man, identified only as "Simon," revealed his situation in a letter sent to some of the parents who have used his sperm, according to the news outlet Nieuwsuur. In the letter, he admitted that he has fathered 199 children, with one woman currently pregnant; 179 of those children were born in the Netherlands, with others born in Belgium and Germany. Authorities are still working to determine the total number as women continue to come forward.
"I should have calculated the total number of donations much earlier, also for myself," Simon wrote in his letter. "The total number turns out to be higher than I had thought, hoped, or wanted."
The majority of those donations have been done privately, which means he did not utilize a fertility clinic.
Women with Simon's children have said that he lied about the number of children he has fathered, and used various names to identify himself, including Jesse, Johan, Daan, Sam, and Maarten. Though he claims he will stop donating and will seek professional guidance so that he can proceed in a "responsible and proper manner, in the interest of the children," many of the women don't believe it.
"The confidence that he will stop is below zero," remarked one mother.
Simon has been donating sperm since 2017; reportedly, the Ministry of Health was aware of his mass-donations, but did nothing to stop him. Shockingly, he was even placed on a committee to evaluate the sperm donor law. As part of that committee, he reportedly advocated for eliminating a cap of 25 children per sperm donor.
"This gentleman should of course never have taken a seat on the supervisory committee," Minister Sophie Hermans said. "I deeply regret that this happened anyway."
In 2025, the country tried to shore up its sperm donation regulations, dropping the 25 child limit down to 12. But as Simon's experience proves, the industry is still largely unregulated.
One mother tried to file a police complaint against him but was denied, as the Public Prosecution Service told her that, "according to the Donor Act, only fertility clinics or other healthcare professionals can be held criminally liable for violating the law."
Private donors like Simon are seemingly not subject to any regulation.
The effects are widespread: children living without a father actively present in their lives, and siblings living in the same area without even realizing that they are related (a situation that has even led to siblings unknowingly dating).
Ultimately, the real victims in this situation are the hundreds of children created as a commodity. Fathers matter.
Each child created deserves to have the love and attention of his or her biological mother and father.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Cassy Cooke
·Issues
Sheena Rodriguez
·Human Interest
Nancy Flanders
·Issues
Nancy Flanders
·Guest Column
Liberty Counsel
·International
Bridget Sielicki
·Abortion Pill
Bridget Sielicki
·Pop Culture
Bridget Sielicki
·Human Interest
Bridget Sielicki
·