SDG 16.1 Security and peace

The first part of SDG concerns the aim of ensuring a secure society where everyone has access to the justice system. It is about reducing all forms of violence, especially against children, and reducing corruption, organised crime and illegal weapons trade.

• The operational strength of the police is declining.
• While the rule of law has weakened, the Dutch legal system is still functioning effectively compared to other countries.
• Trust in the police is high and rising.

Dashboard and indicators

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

A perceived lack of security can make people feel vulnerable and uncertain, and have major consequences for their personal lives. This means that insecurity has an objective and subjective impact on well-being ‘here and now’. The armed forces, police and judiciary are responsible for strengthening and enforcing security through preventive measures and the legal system. Public trust in these institutions can have a positive effect on people’s sense of security.

Resources and opportunities refers to the means that are used to ensure the functioning of the judicial system and the protection of national security. The percentage of GDP spent on national defence is increasing. In 2023, defence spending represented only 1.3 percent of GDP, well below the 2 percent target set by NATO. The operational strength of the police per 100,000 inhabitants is declining and is average compared to other EU countries. In terms of government spending on public order, safety and national defence, the Netherlands ranks near the middle of the EU-27. From 2022 to 2023, there was a decline in both the absolute number of police officers and the number of police officers per 100,000 inhabitants. This can mainly be attributed to a retirement wave and persisting labour shortages.

Use refers to the people who come into contact with the justice system as suspects or offenders, or who seek its protection or support. With 63 detainees per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, the Netherlands ranks second for this indicator in the EU-27. Compared to other EU countries, relatively few people are in prisons, correctional facilities or disciplinary institutions in the Netherlands. Only Finland has fewer detainees. A relatively high percentage of suspects are minors, however (11.3 percent in 2024).

Outcomes refers to the crimes that are committed and the victims of these crimes. In 2023, a total of 45.2 crimes were recorded per 1,000 inhabitants. Between 2010 and 2018, the number of registered crimes fell from 72.4 to 45.8 offenses per 1,000 inhabitants, after which the crime rate stabilised.

These statistics do not reflect all crime, as not every victim files a police report. Moreover, countries may differ in how they record certain offences. This is why victim surveys, such as the Safety Monitor, measure self-reported victimisation. This gives an indication of the extent to which people feel that they have been victims of crime, even if they did not report it.

In 2023, 19.9 percent of the population aged 15 and over reported having been victims of traditional forms of crime, such as violence, burglary, theft and vandalism. In addition, 15.6 percent said they had been victims of online crime. Self-reported victimisation by traditional crime fell until 2021, before increasing again from 2021 to 2023, for the first time since 2012 (from 17.1 to 19.9 percent). This figure remains lower than it was before the coronavirus pandemic.

In collaboration with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Statistics Netherlands and the municipal health services (GGDs), Rutgers and Soa Aids Nederland conduct periodic surveys on the sexual health of young people (aged 13 to 25). The 2023 survey showed that 20 percent of young women and 4 percent of young men have been forced to engage in sexual acts at least once.

In 2023, 868 victims of human trafficking were reported. This amounts to 4.9 victims per 100,000 inhabitants. Human trafficking is a crime that is difficult to measure. The data, provided by the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, relate to registered victims. These figures depend on the regulations in place at any given time, and on the staff capacity available for processing reports. The actual number of victims is estimated to be at least 5,000 a year. This means that a relatively small proportion of victims are known to the relevant institutions.

The rule of law is one of six aspects of good governance that are measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators. Although the rule of law has steadily weakened over the past decade, the Dutch legal system is still relatively effective. With a score of 1.64, on a scale ranging from -2.5 (weak) to 2.5 (sound), the Netherlands ranks fifth in the EU-27, behind Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Austria. Globally, the Netherlands was ranked 13th in 2023.

Subjective assessment refers to people’s trust in the judicial system and the police, as well as their sense of security. In 2024, 78.8 percent of the population aged 15 and over had quite a lot or a great deal of trust in the police. Trust in the police and military peaked during the pandemic years (2020-2021). Trust in the police remains high and shows a rising trend. Compared to the rest of the EU, only Finland has a higher level of trust in the police.