What are the major religions?
More than half (54 percent) of Dutch people aged 15 years and over do not consider themselves part of an ideological group. In 2019, 20 percent of the Dutch population belonged to the Catholic Church, 15 percent were Protestant, 5 percent Muslim and 6 percent belonged to another religious group. Religious involvement has continued to decline in recent years. In 2017, for the first time more than half of the Dutch population aged 15 years and over did not belong to a religious or ideological group.
The proportion of Dutch people aged 15 and over who regularly attend religious services continued to fall further. In 2012, 17 percent of people aged 15 and over still attended a service regularly; this dropped further to 14 percent in 2019.
In 2019, almost 9 percent of Dutch people who regularly attended a service did so weekly, 3 percent several times a month and 2 percent once a month. More than 6 percent went less than once a month, 80 percent rarely or never attended a service.
| Jaartal | None | Roman Catholic | Protestant | Islam | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 54.1 | 20.1 | 14.8 | 5.0 | 5.9 |
| 2018 | 51.8 | 22.1 | 16.0 | 4.9 | 5.3 |
| 2017 | 50.7 | 23.6 | 15.0 | 5.1 | 5.6 |
| 2016 | 49.7 | 24.1 | 15.6 | 5.1 | 5.5 |
| 2015 | 48.2 | 25.3 | 15.4 | 4.6 | 6.5 |
| 2014 | 47.5 | 25.4 | 16.5 | 4.7 | 5.9 |
| 2013 | 46.2 | 26.4 | 16.8 | 4.7 | 5.9 |
| 2012 | 46.2 | 25.6 | 17.2 | 4.5 | 6.5 |
Catholics go to church the least
The frequency of attendance varies greatly depending on the denomination. Of the most common denominations in the Netherlands, Catholics go to church the least often. In 2019, 14 percent regularly attended a religious gathering. Among Protestants this is considerably higher at 50 percent. Among Muslims, 35 percent visit a mosque at least once a month. Among those belonging to a different denomination or ideological group, 1 out of every 3 attends a service on a regular basis.
A quarter believes firmly in God
The Dutch are divided about the existence of God. For example, 1 in 3 says they do not believe in God, while a quarter firmly believes in the existence of God. The rest indicate that they do not know or are unsure. For example, 15 percent say they do not know if there is a God, 6 percent sometimes believe in God and sometimes not, and 7 percent say they believe in God but still have doubts.
Finally, 14 percent say that they do not believe in a God who deals with people personally, but that they do believe in some higher power.
| Categorie | Percentage |
|---|---|
| I do not believe in God | 33.2 |
| I believe in God | 24.6 |
| I do not know if there is a God and I do not believe there is a way to find out |
14.8 |
| I do not believe in a God who deals with every one of us personally, but I do believe in a higher power |
14 |
| I believe in God, although I have my doubts |
7.1 |
| At times I believe in God, other times I do not |
6.3 |
One in 10 Catholics do not believe in God
Of those who do not belong to a faith group, 56 percent say they do not believe in God. One out of every 10 Catholics does not believe in God, while this is limited to 2 out of every 100 Protestants and Muslims.
Almost 1 in 3 Catholics say they have no doubt God exists. Among Protestants this is twice as high at 65 percent; and at 90% Muslims take the cake.
The questions
- How does CBS calculate the figures?
- How do we use our land?
- How fast is the population growing?
- How are the various animal species doing?
- What are our top concerns?
- Where do the emigrants go?
- Who use social media the most?
- How isolated do we feel?
- What are our favourite wedding dates? What about partnership registrations?
- How many under-18s are receiving youth assistance?
- What about cyber crime?
- What are the most popular majors?
- What are the major religions?
- How many overnight stays?
- How many people shop online? And the items they buy...
- Who are eligible to vote?
- What are young people doing online?
- How many adults smoke or have smoked?
- Where were people in the Caribbean Netherlands originally born?
- Where do Caribbean Dutch children live?
- How much internet usage in the Caribbean Netherlands?
- How many people (never) work from home?
- How many millionaires in the Netherlands?
- Has our purchasing power gone up or down?
- Which jobs have the highest levels of mental fatigue?
- How many employees are members of a trade union?
- How many passengers flying into and out of the Netherlands?
- How much nitrogen is emitted at livestock farms?
- How many dwellings in the Netherlands?
- How much is our average mileage in electric cars?
- What do we import from China?
- Which prices are up, which are down?
- What is our production of frozen fries?
- How many enterprises in the Netherlands?
- How much energy do we get from biomass?
- How much do we recycle?
- Which flower bulbs are most common?
- What is the impact of coronavirus?