In the Netherlands, altruistic surrogacy is legal, although commercial arrangements are criminalized. Conversely, Belgium lacks explicit regulations, leading to a situation where the birth mother is legally recognized as the mother, necessitating post-birth legal clarification for intended parents. Sociologist Anika König notes a substantial growth in the surrogacy industry across Europe, despite the absence of a unified trend. Countries like Italy and Spain have enacted stringent bans, while Denmark and Ireland have introduced more liberal frameworks for altruistic surrogacy. The concept of ‘altruism’ remains contentious, as financial compensation for surrogates is often indirect.