In the Netherlands, carrying pepper spray will get you prosecuted. It is classified as a Category II weapon under Dutch law, in the same category as most firearms, and anyone found in possession of it faces criminal charges.
So Dutch inventors came up with something else.
The X-Marker, nicknamed the Smurfenspray or Smurf Spray, is the only legal self-defense spray available to Dutch citizens. Instead of releasing an irritant that temporarily disables an attacker, it shoots a jet of bright blue dye that immediately turns into a foam on contact, similar to shaving foam, temporarily impairing the attacker's vision and giving the victim crucial seconds to get away.
The blue dye penetrates the skin and can remain visible for up to three days, even after washing, making it significantly easier for police to identify and apprehend attackers after the fact. Because it contains no irritants and is not classified as a weapon under Dutch law, it can be carried legally in a bag or pocket and used in emergency situations involving a threat to body, dignity, or property.
The compact device is 12 centimeters tall, holds 50ml, and can be clipped to a belt or carried in a jacket pocket. It has become a popular personal safety product in the Netherlands, particularly among women who want legal protection without the legal risk of carrying banned sprays.
The debate around it is legitimate. Critics point out that it offers no immediate physical deterrent the way pepper spray does, and that a determined attacker is not necessarily stopped by being sprayed with blue foam. Supporters argue that the marking function gives law enforcement a significant advantage in identifying perpetrators quickly, and that the foam itself causes enough confusion and disorientation to create escape time.
It is not a perfect solution. But for a country where the legal alternatives are extremely limited, it represents a genuinely creative response to a real problem.
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