Increasingly, Dutch police are forced to abandon criminal investigations due to a severe shortage of time, personnel, and resources, reports show.
In 2024, at least 45,000 cases were dropped for capacity reasons—more than double the number from 2020, according to NOS and Pointer. Among these were 3,700 serious crimes such as burglaries, assaults, and threats, while over 42,000 minor cases such as bicycle theft, shoplifting, and online fraud also went uninvestigated. In just the first half of this year, another 24,000 cases were already prematurely closed.
Police officials acknowledge that the situation is becoming critical, with many victims deprived of justice and active investigations suffering from delays or loss of evidence. Police chief Gert Veurink said that although the police prioritize cases with victims or strong leads
the magnitude of the problem is worrying.
A rising workload—due to protests, major events, public safety incidents, and security operations—is stretching the force thin. The criminal investigations department faces particular strain, as 1,500 of its 10,000 detectives are expected to retire soon. To cope, the police are expediting training, using new technology, and settling more cases through alternative means such as warnings or civil procedures.
However, these measures are not enough. The police are now urging the government to allocate an additional €350 million per year to address the worsening capacity crisis and prevent further deterioration of law enforcement in the Netherlands.
