Adoption in the Netherlands is a difficult process and can take from three to five years or longer. In recent years the number of children up for adoption has been around 50, with 2000 to 2500 Dutch citizens applying for a child. Many apply to adopt a child from overseas but the same time frame applies as it is built into the structure of the process as part of vetting prospective parents. Applicants must be under 41 years of age and be Dutch nationals or have valid residence permits. Only married couples may adopt a child jointly. Although single sex marriages are legal in the Netherlands such couples cannot apply jointly for a foreign child, though they can for a Dutch child. For information in English see http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_425.html. Although there are no adoption support groups in the Netherlands you will be able to find support and counselling services in English here: http://access-nl.org/our_services/counselling.html.