Compared with most European countries, the Netherlands sends very few of its convicted criminals to prison. Those who are imprisoned have more rights and better treatment than their European counterparts. In this study, criminologist Herman Franke presents the Dutch case . Examining imprisonment in the Netherlands from the end of the 18th century to the present day, he gives a close historical and sociological analysis of the changing trends in the Dutch penal system. This work is intended for criminologists, legal and social historians, and sociologists involved in penal history and reform.