The current Netherlands’ Prevalence study of Maltreatment of youth (NPM-2005) is the first systematic and nation-wide effort to examine the prevalence of child abuse and neglect (CAN) in the Netherlands. The NPM-2005 used more than 1100 carefully selected informants (professionals working with children) across all major regions of The Netherlands. The informants were instructed in the use of a uniform registration system. In addition, the formal registrations of all Dutch Child Protection Services (‘Advies- en Meldpunten Kindermishandeling’, AMK) during 2005 were included in the final estimates of the prevalence rates. The prevalence of CAN is estimated to be 107.200 cases in the year 2005. This is a prevalence of 30 cases of maltreatment per 1.000 children in the age of 0-17. The risk for CAN increases in families with very low educated parents, jobless or single parents, and in larger families. Selfreport prevalence studies are examined. Past policies concerning sexual child abuse are criticized, and some potentially effective preventive interventions for CAN are discussed.