Another word for stalking is also harassing. The word stalking comes from the English word ‘stalking’, which also means stalking in Dutch. Stalkers are mainly men who harass their victims by, among other things, seeking contact in all kinds of ways while this is not desired.
What is stalking?
Stalking means that you are repeatedly harassed by the ‘stalker’ in question. The stalker constantly seeks contact with the victim, which can be done, among other things, by:
- to continually pursue the victim
- constantly calling or texting
- to send letters
- via internet sites such as Hyves, Twitter, Facebook and by email
Stalking often starts lightly and slowly creeps in, which can start with occasional telephone contact and can even end in assault or, in the worst case, murder.
Why does someone stalk?
There are several reasons why someone starts stalking, but it usually involves love, admiration, revenge or jealousy that is becoming increasingly extreme. Artists are sometimes stalked by people they don’t know at all, but in most cases the stalker is known.
If the stalker does not realize what he/she is doing and thinks that he/she is doing the right thing by giving an extreme amount of attention, he/she falls under the category of psychotic stalker. This stalker usually shows no violence or it lasts for a longer period of time .
If the stalker is deliberately active and knows that he/she is causing the victim suffering, then the stalker falls under the category of psychopathic stalker. The psychopathic stalker is significantly more likely to commit violence. Usually the psychopathic stalker appears normal to the outside world, which makes it even worse, because no one sees the danger except the victim.
How does one get rid of it?
In some cases you can get rid of a stalker by ignoring him, but this may also mean that the stalking will only worsen because the stalker becomes even angrier. Try to seek help, just being able to talk to someone about it will at least provide some relief and who knows, they may be able to help you further. Make a note
of everything the stalker sends to you or where you encounter him/her, keep track of everything so that you have a file. If necessary, take photos of sent messages as proof.
If you can’t do it yourself
Stalking is punishable in the Netherlands, but the procedures are usually long. It is a criminal offense if someone systematically infringes on your privacy when this is not desired. You can put together a step-by-step plan with the police to do something against your stalker; if the stalker is caught red-handed, he/she can be arrested. If necessary, a contact ban or prison sentence may be imposed.