Dutch people trust EU more than Dutch House of Representatives

© Hollandse Hoogte
In 2023, almost half of Dutch people aged 15 or older said they had confidence in the European Union (EU). That was more than the percentage who said they trusted the Dutch House of Representatives (29 percent) and politicians in general (24 percent). Trust in the EU has declined over the past two years, however. This is according to the Social Cohesion and Well-Being survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) among nearly 92 thousand people aged 15 or older in the period 2012-2023.

A total of 47 percent of Dutch people aged 15 or older said they trusted the European Union (EU) in 2023. That was less than the previous year, when the figure stood at 53 percent. Despite this decrease, it was still higher than in 2012, when 39 percent said they trusted the EU.

Trust in politics rose steadily after 2012 (in the case of the House of Representatives) and after 2016 (in the case of politicians in general), reaching a high point at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In the first year of the pandemic, 53 percent said they trusted the House of Representatives and 40 percent trusted politicians. Since then, this trust has declined more sharply than trust in the EU.

Confidence in the EU lowest in the east of the province of Groningen

On average, between 2012 and 2023 the lowest levels of trust in the EU were reported among people in the east of the province of Groningen (31 percent), Delfzijl and surrounding area (33 percent) and in central Limburg (35 percent).

The only area where the majority of people said they had confidence in the EU was Gooi en Vechtstreek (at 51 percent).

Trust in House of Representatives highest in Gooi en Vechtstreek

Between 2012 and 2023, on average the lowest trust in the House of Representatives was measured in the east of the province of Groningen (23 percent), Delfzijl and surrounding area (25 percent), followed by the southeast of Drenthe (29 percent), central Limburg and south Limburg (30 percent).

Meanwhile, confidence in the House of Representatives was highest in Gooi en Vechtstreek, at 46 percent.

Confidence in the judiciary is widespread

Of all the institutions listed, trust in the judiciary was the highest in 2023, at 78 percent. In 2012, trust in the judiciary was at 69 percent. Trust in the police and the military stood at 77 percent and 67 percent, respectively. In 2012, 68 percent said they trusted the police and 59 percent had confidence in the military.

Trust in banks has risen compared to 2012, while confidence in large corporations has declined. Confidence in churches is the third lowest of all institutions, above only politicians and the House of Representatives.

Trust in fellow citizens increases

In 2023, 67 percent of the population said they trusted their fellow citizens, while in 2012 the figure was 58 percent. Social trust increased substantially in 2021, in particular.

On average, between 2012 and 2023 social trust was the lowest in the east of the province of Groningen, at 46 percent. It is also lower than average in a number of border regions, including Delfzijl and surrounding area (52 percent), south Limburg and central Limburg (55 percent).

Social trust was the highest in the Gooi en Vechtstreek (70 percent). The province of Utrecht (69 percent) and north Overijssel (68 percent) also feature among the three COROP regions wihere trust in fellow citizens is the highest.

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