- Advertisement -The Dutch prison system is increasingly struggling with overcrowding — so much so that detainees are now being released two weeks earlier than their sentences officially end. The Netherlands was earlier applauded after their prison populations decreased by more than 40% over a 20-year period. Officials are warning that prisoners may need to be released even earlier, reports the NOS. An ongoing problemWithout change, emergency measures could be further instated, such as releasing prisoners even earlier than two weeks before their expected date. Yet the prison system had requested €400 million — leaving a major gap in funding.