Article 261 Dutch Criminal Code

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Any person who intentionally attacks a person's honour or reputation by alleging a specific fact, with the evident aim of giving publicity to it, is guilty of defamation (smaad) and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine of the third category.

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If this is done by means of writings or images that are distributed, publicly displayed or posted up, or by means of writings whose content is publicly read out, the perpetrator is guilty of written defamation (smaadschrift) and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine of the third category.

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There is neither defamation nor written defamation in so far as the perpetrator acted in necessary defence, or could in good faith have assumed that the alleged fact was true and that the public interest required the allegation.