Older people born in the Achterhoek and Limburg tend to return to their native region

Many older people no longer live in their native region. Over-55s, notably those born in the south and east part of the Netherlands, tend to return to their native region later in life.

Four in ten older people left their native region

Around the turn of the century, 40 percent of over-55s (in total nearly 4.6 million people) in the Netherlands no longer lived in their native region. The proportion varied considerably per municipality of birth and native region.

More than half of over-55s born in the municipalities along the northern coast and the province of Drenthe had left. Older people born in the south and east of the country appeared to be less keen to move to other parts of the country: the relocation ratio in most municipalities was fewer than 3 in 10.

Over-55s living outside their native region

One in seven return

Between 1999 and 2005, 11 percent of people over the age of 55 who lived outside their region of birth relocated to another municipality. One in seven of them returned to the region where they were born.

Although older people born in the municipalities along the northern coast had most often left their native region, the proportion of them who returned to their native region was not so high. The proportion of over-55s who returned to their native region was higher for people from the central municipalities in the north.

Over-55s who have returned by native town, 1999-2005

On a larger scale, the pattern is even more obvious. If municipalities are consolidated into COROP areas, it becomes evident that over-55s from the Achterhoek, the Veluwe, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and large parts of the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant also more often returned to their native region.

Over-55s who returned to their native region, 1999-2005

Jan Latten (CBS, UvA), Clara Mulder (UvA), Elien Smeulders (UvA)