No home internet access for 1.2 million Dutch people

The Netherlands has the highest percentage of households in the European Union with home internet connections. Only one in eight Dutch people have either no access to the internet from their own home (1.2 million), or do have access, but do not use it (0.5 million). Two-thirds of people with no home connection have a relatively low education level. Around half are over 65 years of age and/or single. Youngsters aged up to 25 years nearly all have access to the internet from home: only 2 percent of this age group do not.

People (12–75 years) with internet access from home, 2008

No interest

Nearly six in ten people who do not have internet access do not want it or are not interested in access, 12  percent think it costs too much. Privacy considerations and physical handicaps are mentioned by only very few people as reasons for not having an internet connection at home.

Reasons for not having an internet connection, 2008

Unused home connections

More than half a million Dutch people do have access to the internet at home, but do not make use of it. The composition of this group differs substantially from people who do not have a connection at all. It includes relatively more women, fewer over-65s and considerably more single people.

People younger than 60 who do not use their internet connection have lower education levels than their peers with no connection at all. Level of education is therefore a relevant distinguishing characteristic in all groups.

Characteristics of internet users aged 12-59 years, 2008

Mobile phone correlates with internet use

People who do not have internet access at home are also less likely to use other modern technologies such as mobile phones. Fewer than seven in ten Dutch people without internet at home sometimes use a mobile phone, compared with 95 percent of people with internet access.

Maico Hoksbergen