Flevoland has highest unemployment rate

Unemployment has risen across all Dutch provinces last year. Flevoland, Groningen and Friesland had the highest unemployment rates. Rotterdam had the highest rate among the four major Dutch municipalities, but unemployment rose most rapidly in Amsterdam.

Lowest unemployment growth in South Holland

Last year, 8.3 percent in the Dutch labour force were unemployed. With 10.9 percent, Flevoland had the highest proportion of unemployed. Unemployment rates were also relatively high in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. In the province of South Holland - still in the top three in 2012 - the increase was relatively small. With an unemployment rate of 9.0 percent, South Holland came in fourth place in 2013.

Unemployment by province

Zeeland has had the lowest unemployment rate over the past half decade

Since 2009, the province of Zeeland has had the lowest unemployment rate. Zeeland also had the lowest rate (5.8 percent) in 2013. In the provinces of Utrecht, North Brabant and Gelderland, the rate was below 8 percent. In 2012, the province of Limburg still had one of the lowest unemployment rates, but in 2013 the rate had risen to the level of the national average.

Unemployment in Rotterdam nearly 14 percent

The unemployment rates in the four major Dutch cities are relatively high. The highest rate was recorded in the municipality of Rotterdam where 13.9 percent in the labour force were unemployed. With 8.3 percent, the municipality of Utrecht had the lowest rate.

Most substantial increase in Amsterdam

Unemployment increased most rapidly in Amsterdam, from 7.9 percent in 2012 to 10.0 percent in 2013. The municipality of The Hague boasted the smallest unemployment increase, from 10.9 to 11.1 percent.

Unemployment in the four major Dutch municipalities

Bart Loog