In 2015, government subsidies were the main source of income for Dutch museums. The share of subsidies did go down considerably in the span of a decade: in 2005, nearly two-thirds of revenues consisted of subsidies, versus 42 percent in 2015. Museums have become more and more dependent on revenues from entrance tickets, museum shops and cafés and restaurants, as well as on donations and charity.

Due to the economic crisis that started at the end of 2008, fewer foreign tourists visited the Netherlands. The number of foreign museum visitors increased again gradually after 2009 to 28 percent in the total number of visits by 2015. This increase goes hand in hand with growing numbers of foreign tourist arrivals. Large museums in particular have benefited from this growth.

Performing arts attendance was up by 6 percent in 2015 relative to 2012. In the same period, audience revenues at the 337 venues were up accordingly: in 2015, revenues generated by entrance fees, cloakroom charges and merchandising were 13 percent higher than in 2012.

In 2015, there were 156 public libraries with a membership base of around 3.8 million, including 61 percent young people. Libraries have adopted a wider range of services in recent years beyond the lending of books. In 2015, for instance, around 81.5 thousand activities were organised in the areas of functional illiteracy and education.

The share of adults belonging to a religious denomination has diminished over the years. In 2004, 59 percent of the adult population belonged to a religious group; this share had halved by 2015.

Young people are much less inclined than elderly to consider themselves members of a religious group. In 2015, six in ten young people indicated they are not religious, against three out of ten over-75s. The most commonly stated religion is the Roman Catholic faith.

Men are more interested in politics than women: in 2016, 57 percent of men showed an interest in politics against 42 percent of women. Political interest has dropped slightly since 2012 among both sexes.