The 2025 Veiligheidsmonitor survey of the Dutch central statistical office (CBS) reveals a troubling shift in the Netherlands as 37% of respondents now report feeling unsafe at least occasionally, a rise from 33% in 2019. This increase marks the end of a 20-year downward trend in perceived unsafety. Young women aged 15 to 25 are disproportionately affected, with 60% reporting feeling unsafe at times—more than double the 27% seen in their male peers.
Geographic disparities are stark; 43% of city dwellers feel vulnerable, compared to 29% in rural areas. In urban hotspots like central Amsterdam and Rotterdam the proportion of those who tend to feel unsafe is as high as 59%.
While traditional crime victimization remained stable at 20% in 2025 (affecting 3 million people), violent and sexual crimes rose by 9%.
While police interactions remain generally positive, 56% of residents complain that officers are rarely visible in their neighbourhoods.
