Few Eastern Europeans living in the Netherlands receive social security and unemployment benefits

In recent years, the number of people from Eastern European EU countries living in the Netherlands has risen rapidly, but relatively few receive social security or unemployment (WW) benefits. By the end of 2009, more than 1,000 WW benefits and more than 600 social security benefits were paid to nationals from Eastern European EU countries.

WW benefits paid to Eastern Europeans. Situation at the end of the year

Number of WW benefits to Eastern Europeans grows above average

The number of people with a nationality of one of the EU countries in Eastern Europe receiving unemployment benefits is relatively small, but has grown above average in recent years. By the end of last year, 16 in every 1,000 Eastern Europeans aged between 15 and 65 received WW benefits versus more than 24 in every 1,000 inhabitants in the same age bracket.

Social security benefits to Eastern Europeans. Situation at the end of the year

Few social security recipients among Eastern Europeans

Nationals from Eastern Europe living in the Netherlands less frequently receive social security benefits. In December 2009, the number of social security benefits per 1,000 Eastern Europeans in the Netherlands was 9, whereas on average there were 25 recipients of social security benefits per 1,000 residents in the age category 15–65.

Number of Eastern Europeans registered in the Netherlands, 1 January

Sharp increase people from Eastern European countries

The amount of 15 to 65-year-olds from Eastern European EU countries living in the Netherlands aged has risen from more than 20 thousand on 1 January 2005 to more than 67 thousand on 1 January 2010. More than half are Polish nationals. By the end of 2009, the number of people from EU countries in Eastern Europe living in the Netherlands exceeded 100 thousand. 

Maarten Bloem