The Netherlands has carried out the euthanasia of a terminally ill child under the age of 12 for the first time since a significant expansion of its assisted dying laws took effect two years ago.

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the case during her annual report to the House of Representatives on Monday. She described the child as “incurably ill” but did not disclose further details about the child’s age or specific condition.

The procedure occurred last year, marking a historic — and controversial — milestone in the country’s euthanasia practices.

The case has reignited intense debate about the ethics of extending assisted dying to minors, even in cases of extreme suffering.

The Netherlands remains one of the few countries in the world with formal provisions for euthanasia of children under strict medical and legal conditions.