Cities in the Netherlands
Last updated 25 September 2026
All 32 cities in the Netherlands with more than 100,000 residents: the official population, a short profile and the crime rate recorded by the police, set against the rate for the Netherlands.
Municipalities (gemeenten) with at least 100,000 residents on 1 January 2026 (CBS StatLine, definitive figures).
How to read the figures
- Population is the latest official figure from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
- The crime rate is: registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional, from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), registered crime by municipality. National rate: the Netherlands 45.2.
- CBS counts crimes recorded by the police in the municipality where they were committed, so cities with many commuters, students, tourists and shoppers record many crimes against non-residents. The 2025 figures are provisional and CBS rounds counts to multiples of five.
- Compare cities within the Netherlands only: every country defines and records crime differently.
- The figure is not your personal risk: offences are counted where they happen, so city centres with many commuters and visitors record higher rates.
All 32 cities
| City | Region | Residents | Crime rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | North Holland (Noord-Holland) | 941,927 | 87.4 |
| Rotterdam | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 673,804 | 80.1 |
| The Hague | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 569,468 | 70.1 |
| Utrecht | Utrecht | 378,121 | 74.4 |
| Eindhoven | North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) | 249,783 | 77.6 |
| Groningen | Groningen | 244,427 | 61.2 |
| Almere | Flevoland | 232,619 | 41.0 |
| Tilburg | North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) | 230,746 | 58.6 |
| Breda | North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) | 190,204 | 61.6 |
| Nijmegen | Gelderland | 189,871 | 64.0 |
| Arnhem | Gelderland | 171,822 | 67.6 |
| Apeldoorn | Gelderland | 169,212 | 45.4 |
| Haarlem | North Holland (Noord-Holland) | 168,898 | 55.9 |
| Haarlemmermeer | North Holland (Noord-Holland) | 166,978 | 59.5 |
| Zaanstad | North Holland (Noord-Holland) | 165,201 | 47.2 |
| Amersfoort | Utrecht | 163,764 | 45.1 |
| Enschede | Overijssel | 162,683 | 65.0 |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) | 162,295 | 57.0 |
| Zwolle | Overijssel | 134,147 | 56.6 |
| Zoetermeer | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 130,836 | 43.8 |
| Leiden | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 130,328 | 57.3 |
| Leeuwarden | Friesland (Fryslân) | 130,162 | 54.9 |
| Maastricht | Limburg | 126,026 | 60.3 |
| Ede | Gelderland | 125,331 | 36.6 |
| Dordrecht | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 122,991 | 54.2 |
| Westland | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 118,874 | 29.5 |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 117,284 | 34.3 |
| Alkmaar | North Holland (Noord-Holland) | 113,196 | 52.3 |
| Delft | South Holland (Zuid-Holland) | 110,089 | 54.2 |
| Emmen | Drenthe | 109,881 | 37.6 |
| Deventer | Overijssel | 105,111 | 44.8 |
| Venlo | Limburg | 104,195 | 60.3 |
The cities, from largest
Amsterdam
North Holland (Noord-Holland) · 941,927 residents on 1 January 2026.
Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands and its largest municipality, in the province of North Holland. It is home to the University of Amsterdam, with over 44,000 students, and to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with about 31,500 students.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Amsterdam 87.4, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 2018 (English translation, Article 32), University of Amsterdam – Facts and figures, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – About VU
Rotterdam
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 673,804 residents on 1 January 2026.
Rotterdam is the second-largest municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The Port of Rotterdam Authority describes the port as the largest in Europe, and the city is home to Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Rotterdam 80.1, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Port of Rotterdam Authority – home page, Erasmus University Rotterdam – About the university
The Hague (Den Haag ('s-Gravenhage))
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 569,468 residents on 1 January 2026.
The Hague is the seat of the Dutch parliament and of the International Court of Justice, and the country's third-largest municipality, in the province of South Holland. Leiden University runs a campus in the city in addition to its base in Leiden.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: The Hague 70.1, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: House of Representatives – Visit the House of Representatives, International Court of Justice – The Court, Leiden University – About us
Utrecht
Utrecht · 378,121 residents on 1 January 2026.
Utrecht is the fourth-largest municipality in the Netherlands and the seat of the provincial government of Utrecht province. Utrecht University has over 38,000 students, and ProRail describes Utrecht Centraal as the country's largest public transport hub.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Utrecht 74.4, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Utrecht – Contact (Huis voor de provincie, Archimedeslaan 6, Utrecht), Utrecht University – Facts and figures, ProRail – Utrecht Centraal officieel geopend (7 December 2016)
Eindhoven
North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) · 249,783 residents on 1 January 2026.
Eindhoven is the largest municipality in North Brabant and the centre of the Brainport region, where the national government and the region are investing €2.5 billion in the microchip sector. Eindhoven University of Technology, founded in 1956, has over 13,000 students.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Eindhoven 77.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Rijksoverheid – Nederland investeert € 2,5 miljard in sterk ondernemingsklimaat voor microchipsector Brainport Eindhoven (28 March 2024), Eindhoven University of Technology – Our university
Groningen
Groningen · 244,427 residents on 1 January 2026.
Groningen is the largest municipality in the north of the Netherlands and the seat of the provincial government of Groningen. The University of Groningen, founded in 1614, has around 32,500 students, and Hanze University of Applied Sciences is also based here.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Groningen 61.2, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Groningen – Contact (provinciehuis, Martinikerkhof 12, Groningen), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen – Kerncijfers 2025, Hanze University of Applied Sciences – About Hanze
Almere
Flevoland · 232,619 residents on 1 January 2026.
Almere, in the province of Flevoland, was established in 1975, became a municipality in 1984 and is now the province's largest municipality. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences teaches around 25,000 students across its Almere and Zwolle campuses.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Almere 41.0, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Almere – Historie, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences – About Windesheim
Tilburg
North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) · 230,746 residents on 1 January 2026.
Tilburg is the second-largest municipality in North Brabant. Tilburg University, founded in 1927, has about 19,000 students in the social sciences, economics, law and humanities, and Fontys and Avans universities of applied sciences also have campuses in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Tilburg 58.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Tilburg University – About, Fontys – Our campuses (Eindhoven, Tilburg and Venlo), Avans University of Applied Sciences – Contact and locations
Breda
North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) · 190,204 residents on 1 January 2026.
Breda is the third-largest municipality in North Brabant. The Royal Military Academy has trained officers at Breda Castle since 1828, and Avans University of Applied Sciences has several locations in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Breda 61.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Defensie.nl – Koninklijke Militaire Academie (KMA), Avans University of Applied Sciences – Contact and locations
Nijmegen
Gelderland · 189,871 residents on 1 January 2026.
Nijmegen is the largest municipality in the province of Gelderland. It is home to Radboud University, founded in 1923, to the Radboudumc university medical centre and to a campus of HAN University of Applied Sciences.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Nijmegen 64.0, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Radboud University – About Radboud University, Radboudumc – About Radboudumc, HAN University of Applied Sciences – HAN organization
Arnhem
Gelderland · 171,822 residents on 1 January 2026.
Arnhem is the seat of the provincial government of Gelderland and the province's second-largest municipality after Nijmegen. HAN University of Applied Sciences has a campus in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Arnhem 67.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Gelderland – Contact (Huis der Provincie, Markt 11, Arnhem), HAN University of Applied Sciences – HAN organization
Apeldoorn
Gelderland · 169,212 residents on 1 January 2026.
Apeldoorn lies in Gelderland and is described by the municipality as the largest city on the Veluwe. The palace Paleis Het Loo, open to visitors, is located here, and Saxion University of Applied Sciences has an Apeldoorn campus.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Apeldoorn 45.4, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Apeldoorn – Cultuur en erfgoed, Paleis Het Loo – official website, Saxion University of Applied Sciences – About Saxion
Haarlem
North Holland (Noord-Holland) · 168,898 residents on 1 January 2026.
Haarlem is the capital of the province of North Holland and its second-largest municipality after Amsterdam. Inholland University of Applied Sciences has a Haarlem campus.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Haarlem 55.9, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Noord-Holland – Over de provincie, Hogeschool Inholland – Studeer in Haarlem
Haarlemmermeer
North Holland (Noord-Holland) · 166,978 residents on 1 January 2026.
Haarlemmermeer, in North Holland, is the municipality in which Schiphol airport lies, which the municipality describes as important for the local economy. The municipal offices are in Hoofddorp.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Haarlemmermeer 59.5, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Haarlemmermeer – Schiphol, Gemeente Haarlemmermeer – Adressen en openingstijden (gemeentekantoren in Hoofddorp)
Zaanstad
North Holland (Noord-Holland) · 165,201 residents on 1 January 2026.
Zaanstad, in North Holland, was formed in 1974 from the city of Zaandam and six villages and is part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. The municipality describes the area as Europe's oldest industrial region and the birthplace of companies such as Albert Heijn and Verkade.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Zaanstad 47.2, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Zaanstad (Werken bij) – Over de stad
Amersfoort
Utrecht · 163,764 residents on 1 January 2026.
Amersfoort is the second-largest municipality in the province of Utrecht, with a historic centre and, in the municipality's words, a central location in the heart of the Netherlands. It plans to grow to 180,000 residents by 2040, with housing and jobs around the railway zone.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Amersfoort 45.1, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Amersfoort – Public Affairs Agenda 2024-2027 (PDF)
Enschede
Overijssel · 162,683 residents on 1 January 2026.
Enschede is the largest municipality in the province of Overijssel. It is home to the University of Twente, which has the only all-in campus in the Netherlands, and to the main campus of Saxion University of Applied Sciences.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Enschede 65.0, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: University of Twente – Facts & Figures, Saxion University of Applied Sciences – About Saxion
's-Hertogenbosch ('s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch))
North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) · 162,295 residents on 1 January 2026.
's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) is the seat of the provincial government of North Brabant. Avans University of Applied Sciences has several locations in the city and Fontys also has a location here.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: 's-Hertogenbosch 57.0, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Noord-Brabant – Contact (provinciehuis, Brabantlaan 1, 's-Hertogenbosch), Avans University of Applied Sciences – Contact and locations, Fontys – Fontys locations
Zwolle
Overijssel · 134,147 residents on 1 January 2026.
Zwolle is the seat of the provincial government of Overijssel and describes itself as a Hanseatic city. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, with around 25,000 students in Zwolle and Almere, is based here.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Zwolle 56.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Overijssel – Contact en route (provinciehuis, Luttenbergstraat 2, Zwolle), Gemeente Zwolle – Bezoek Zwolle (Hanzestad Zwolle), Windesheim University of Applied Sciences – About Windesheim
Zoetermeer
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 130,836 residents on 1 January 2026.
Zoetermeer, in South Holland, was one of the Netherlands' designated growth centres and expanded from a village into a city from the 1960s. Its Dutch Innovation Park hosts IT companies from start-ups to firms such as Siemens and Atos.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Zoetermeer 43.8, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Zoetermeer – Geschiedenis, Gemeente Zoetermeer – Dutch Innovation Park
Leiden
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 130,328 residents on 1 January 2026.
Leiden, in South Holland, is home to Leiden University, founded in 1575, which has about 33,500 students and 6,400 staff across its Leiden and The Hague campuses. The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) is also located in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Leiden 57.3, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Leiden University – About us, Leiden University Medical Center – About LUMC
Leeuwarden (Leeuwarden (Ljouwert))
Friesland (Fryslân) · 130,162 residents on 1 January 2026.
Leeuwarden (Frisian: Ljouwert) is the seat of the provincial government of Fryslân and the province's largest municipality. NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences has its main campus in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Leeuwarden 54.9, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Fryslân – Contact (provinciehuis, Tweebaksmarkt 52, Leeuwarden), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences – About NHL Stenden (Rengerslaan 8-10, Leeuwarden), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences – Locations
Maastricht
Limburg · 126,026 residents on 1 January 2026.
Maastricht is the seat of the provincial government of Limburg and, in the municipality's words, an international university city in a knowledge region. Maastricht University, founded in 1976, draws more than half of its students from abroad and hosts over 130 nationalities.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Maastricht 60.3, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Provincie Limburg – Contact (Gouvernement aan de Maas, Limburglaan 10, Maastricht), Gemeente Maastricht – Stad, Maastricht University – the history
Ede
Gelderland · 125,331 residents on 1 January 2026.
Ede, in Gelderland, combines a town with countryside and lies in the Foodvalley region, where government, education and business in the Ede–Wageningen area cooperate on food innovation. The municipality counted 62,120 jobs in 2022 and has intercity stations at Ede-Wageningen and De Klomp.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Ede 36.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Ede (Ede Ondernemers) – Over Ede en Regio Foodvalley, Gemeente Ede – Ondernemers & Food
Dordrecht
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 122,991 residents on 1 January 2026.
Dordrecht, in South Holland, grew in the Middle Ages into the trading and administrative centre of Holland, according to the municipal museums. Its Dordrecht Inland Seaport, managed by the Port of Rotterdam Authority, is the most landward seaport in the Netherlands.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Dordrecht 54.2, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Hof van Nederland / Dordrechts Museum (municipal museums) – Dagje Dordt, Port of Rotterdam Authority – Dordrecht Inland Seaport
Westland
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 118,874 residents on 1 January 2026.
Westland, in South Holland, has its administrative centre in Naaldwijk. It is the centre of Dutch greenhouse horticulture: CBS records about 2,530 hectares of greenhouses in Westland in 2025, roughly a quarter of the national total and by far the most of any municipality.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Westland 29.5, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Westland – Contact en openingstijden (Verdilaan 7, Naaldwijk), CBS StatLine – Landbouw; gewassen, dieren en grondgebruik naar gemeente (80781ned), tuinbouw onder glas 2025
Alphen aan den Rijn
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 117,284 residents on 1 January 2026.
Alphen aan den Rijn lies in South Holland, in the middle of the Groene Hart, and combines a town, villages and countryside; the river Rijn runs through its centre. Boskoop, part of the municipality, is known for its tree nurseries.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Alphen aan den Rijn 34.3, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Alphen aan den Rijn – Ontdek Alphen aan den Rijn
Alkmaar
North Holland (Noord-Holland) · 113,196 residents on 1 January 2026.
Alkmaar, in North Holland, has a historic centre and, according to the municipality, lies about 30 minutes from Amsterdam and Schiphol. Inholland University of Applied Sciences has a campus in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Alkmaar 52.3, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Alkmaar – Ondernemen in Alkmaar, Gemeente Alkmaar – home page, Hogeschool Inholland – Studeer in Alkmaar
Delft
South Holland (Zuid-Holland) · 110,089 residents on 1 January 2026.
Delft, in South Holland, is home to Delft University of Technology, which describes itself as the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. Inholland University of Applied Sciences also has a campus in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Delft 54.2, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: TU Delft – About TU Delft, Hogeschool Inholland – Studeer in Delft
Emmen
Drenthe · 109,881 residents on 1 January 2026.
Emmen is the largest municipality in the province of Drenthe, with a town centre and surrounding villages. The municipality names manufacturing and circular and bio-based plastics as its key economic sectors, and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences has an Emmen campus.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Emmen 37.6, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Emmen – Coalitieakkoord 2026-2030 (PDF), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences – Locations
Deventer
Overijssel · 105,111 residents on 1 January 2026.
Deventer is a Hanseatic city on the IJssel in Overijssel and, according to the municipality, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. It has direct trains to Amsterdam, The Hague and Berlin, a Saxion campus, and businesses in logistics, IT and manufacturing.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Deventer 44.8, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Deventer – Welcome to the city of Deventer, Saxion University of Applied Sciences – About Saxion
Venlo
Limburg · 104,195 residents on 1 January 2026.
Venlo lies in Limburg near the German border and describes itself as the third logistics hotspot in the Netherlands after Rotterdam and Schiphol. Its economy rests on logistics, agrofood, manufacturing and knowledge-intensive industry, and Fontys has a campus in the city.
Registered crimes per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Venlo 60.3, the Netherlands 45.2.
Sources – population: CBS · Crime: CBS · About the city: Gemeente Venlo – Ondernemen in Venlo, Gemeente Venlo (Nu Venlo) – Business, Fontys – Our campuses (Eindhoven, Tilburg and Venlo)
Sources and method
Population: CBS StatLine – Bevolking op 1 januari en gemiddeld; geslacht, leeftijd en regio (table 03759ned), Bevolking op 1 januari 2026, gemeente (definitive figures published 23 June 2026; identical to table 37230ned, 2026 januari). Retrieved via the CBS OData API.. Crime: CBS StatLine – Geregistreerde criminaliteit; soort misdrijf, regio (table 83648NED, successor of 47018NED), Misdrijven totaal, per gemeente, 2025 (provisional, published March 2026). Retrieved via the CBS OData API.. Where a figure was not published for a city, we say so rather than estimate it. Found an error? Write to editor@relocateineurope.com.