Personal capital households further reduced

The personal capital of households in the Netherlands has declined further. On 1 January 2011, the median household capital was 29 thousand euro versus 33 thousand euro early 2010, a decline by 12 percent.

Personal capital households down due to home value depreciation

Early 2010, the capital of households was below the level of one year previously. The loss was largely due to a reduction in the value of privately-owned residential property. Nearly six in ten Dutch households own the home they live in.

Early 2011, the median value of privately-owned homes was 233 thousand euro versus 237 thousand euro early 2010. The mortgage debt increased from 156 thousand euro in 2010 to 160 thousand euro in 2011. Other debts also increased, from 37 to 42 thousand euro

Personal capital households, value own home, financial assets and debts, 1 January

Higher value security portfolio households

The value of securities like shares and bonds rose from 13 thousand euro early 2010 to 15 thousand euro on 1 January 2011. More than 20 percent of households owned securities and 14 thousand euro was deposited in bank and savings accounts, the same amount as early 2010. Nearly everyone has a bank and/or savings account.

Fewer millionaires

At the beginning of last year, 151 thousand households in the Netherlands owned a personal capital exceeding 1 million euro, 12 thousand fewer than in the same period in 2010. The number of households with a personal capital ranging between 100 thousand and 1 million euro was also reduced. The number of households whose personal capital is negative or less than 5 thousand euro, on the other hand, grew. 

Households by personal capital, 1 January

Jack Claessen