Netherlands: crime and justice

How many murders are there in the Netherlands?

There were 103 victims of murder or manslaughter in the Netherlands in 2025, 17 fewer than in 2024 and the lowest number since these crimes were first recorded, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The victims were 65 men and 38 women. Half of the female victims were killed by a partner or ex-partner.

Over the past five years an average of 123 people a year were killed. CBS reports a long fall: 240 victims in 1996 and 159 in 2006. With about 18 million inhabitants, 103 victims is a rate of a little under 0.6 per 100 thousand people. The statistics are based on police data combined with cause-of-death records.

Official sources: CBS: Fewer murders, lowest number of men murdered in 30 years

What is the crime rate in the Netherlands?

In 2025, 20% of people aged 15 and over in the Netherlands said they had been a victim of traditional crime, such as burglary, theft, vandalism or violence, unchanged from 2023, according to the 2025 Safety Monitor from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Online crime increased. Police recorded roughly the same number of traditional crimes in 2025 as in earlier years, and most victims live in large cities.

The Safety Monitor is a survey held every two years, so it captures crimes not reported to the police. Registered crime figures from the police are published on StatLine and the police open data site, broken down by type and municipality.

Official sources: CBS: No change in incidence of theft and violent crime

Do people feel safe in the Netherlands?

In 2025, 37% of people in the Netherlands said they sometimes felt unsafe in general, compared with 33% in 2019, according to the 2025 Safety Monitor from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). CBS says feelings of insecurity have risen since 2021 after an earlier fall. Young women are the most likely to feel unsafe at times, at 60%, more than twice the share of young men, and people in cities more often feel unsafe than those in rural areas.

The survey covers people aged 15 and over and is repeated every two years, so the next national results are due for 2027.

Official sources: CBS: Number of people who feel unsafe is rising

How satisfied are people with the police in the Netherlands?

In 2025, 31% of the Dutch population were satisfied with police visibility in their neighbourhood and 21% were dissatisfied, according to the 2025 Safety Monitor from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). For police performance in the neighbourhood, 35% were satisfied and 8% dissatisfied. People in more urban areas were more satisfied with police visibility than those in less urban areas.

The rest of respondents were neutral or had no opinion. The Safety Monitor is a survey of people aged 15 and older carried out every two years by CBS with the Ministry of Justice and Security and the police.

Official sources: CBS: One-third are satisfied with police visibility in their neighbourhood

How many prisoners are there in the Netherlands?

The Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) publishes average capacity and occupancy figures for each prison and detention institution, covering four-month periods. The latest release, for May to August 2026, was published on 14 October 2026, and the January to April 2026 figures on 29 July 2026.

The figures show occupied places, empty places available for immediate use, and places taken out of use for maintenance, staffing reasons or as reserve capacity. They are presented per institution in graphs, so a single national prisoner total is not stated on the page. CBS also publishes annual figures on detainees on StatLine.

Official sources: DJI: Capaciteit- en bezettingscijfers

How many court cases are there in the Netherlands?

Dutch courts made almost 1.5 million judicial decisions in 2025, and roughly the same number of new cases came in, according to the Dutch judiciary (Rechtspraak). The judiciary had 2,715 judges, including 258 in training, and 10,821 other staff. Women made up 62% of judges and men 38%.

The figures come from the judiciary's annual report for 2025, which also breaks down cases by type, such as civil, criminal and administrative law, and reports processing times. Decisions include everything from final judgments to procedural rulings, so the count is larger than the number of trials.

Official sources: Rechtspraak: Rechtspraak in cijfers

What is the murder rate in the Netherlands?

In 2023, the intentional homicide rate in the Netherlands was 0.7 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.5 per 100,000 (2016) to 1.1 per 100,000 (2005). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.0 per 100,000, and the Netherlands placed 29th highest of 35. World rank, highest first: 68th of 79.

What is the female homicide rate in the Netherlands?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2023, is 0.5 per 100,000. The peak was 0.7 per 100,000 in 2005 and the low 0.3 per 100,000 in 2014. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and the Netherlands placed 29th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 68th of 78.

What is the male homicide rate in the Netherlands?

In 2023, the homicide rate for men in the Netherlands was 0.9 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 1.4 per 100,000 in 2005 and the low 0.7 per 100,000 in 2016. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and the Netherlands placed 27th highest of 36. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 64th highest.