Origins

German origin in the Netherlands

On 1 January 2026, 336,693 residents of the Netherlands (1.9% of the population) had a German origin.

Residents
336,693 on 1 January 2026
Share of population
1.9%
Change since 2022
−0.2 pp
Born abroad
36.1%

Share per municipality

Germany, share of residents <1%, 1%–2%, 2%–2%, 2%–3%, 3%–3%, 3%–4%, ≥4%

See on the postcode map →

Municipalities with the highest share

Municipalities with the highest share

  1. Vaals Limburg 33.1% 3,345
  2. Kerkrade Limburg 14.2% 6,495
  3. Simpelveld Limburg 10.0% 1,045
  4. Landgraaf Limburg 9.5% 3,515
  5. Brunssum Limburg 8.0% 2,185
  6. Bergen (L.) Limburg 7.1% 925
  7. Heerlen Limburg 7.0% 6,165
  8. Roerdalen Limburg 6.5% 1,365
  9. Losser Overijssel 6.3% 1,470
  10. Venlo Limburg 5.9% 6,180
  11. Beekdaelen Limburg 5.6% 2,005
  12. Echt-Susteren Limburg 5.5% 1,795

Municipalities with the most residents of this origin

  1. Amsterdam North Holland 20,795 2.2%
  2. Den Haag South Holland 10,370 1.8%
  3. Rotterdam South Holland 9,380 1.4%
  4. Enschede Overijssel 6,845 4.2%
  5. Utrecht Utrecht 6,525 1.7%
  6. Kerkrade Limburg 6,495 14.2%
  7. Maastricht Limburg 6,255 5.0%
  8. Venlo Limburg 6,180 5.9%
  9. Heerlen Limburg 6,165 7.0%
  10. Groningen Groningen 5,865 2.4%
  11. Nijmegen Gelderland 5,635 3.0%
  12. Eindhoven North Brabant 4,580 1.8%

Cities and villages with the highest share

  1. Vaals Limburg 39.0% 3,005
  2. Lemiers Vaals, Limburg 20.3% 205
  3. Kerkrade Limburg 14.4% 5,785
  4. Eygelshoven Kerkrade, Limburg 12.4% 710
  5. Bocholtz Simpelveld, Limburg 12.3% 600
  6. Bad Nieuweschans Oldambt, Groningen 10.8% 150
  7. Siebengewald Bergen (L.), Limburg 10.5% 220
  8. Vijlen Vaals, Limburg 9.7% 135
  9. Schinveld Beekdaelen, Limburg 9.7% 445
  10. Landgraaf Limburg 9.5% 3,515
  11. Vlodrop Roerdalen, Limburg 9.5% 230
  12. Dinxperlo Aalten, Gelderland 9.5% 690

Places with at least 500 residents.

Postcodes with the highest share

  1. 6291 Vaals, Limburg 39.0% 3,005
  2. 6462 Kerkrade, Limburg 23.3% 1,655
  3. 6295 Lemiers, Limburg 20.3% 205
  4. 6465 Kerkrade, Limburg 18.1% 370
  5. 6464 Kerkrade, Limburg 14.0% 600
  6. 6461 Kerkrade, Limburg 13.2% 1,080
  7. 6471 Eygelshoven, Limburg 12.4% 710
  8. 6351 Bocholtz, Limburg 12.3% 600
  9. 6463 Kerkrade, Limburg 11.5% 540
  10. 6466 Kerkrade, Limburg 11.5% 935
  11. 6467 Kerkrade, Limburg 10.9% 520
  12. 9693 Bad Nieuweschans, Groningen 10.8% 150

Places with at least 500 residents.

Trend since 1998

Measure
Show as table
Year Netherlands
1998 2.6%
1999 2.6%
2000 2.5%
2001 2.5%
2002 2.5%
2003 2.4%
2004 2.4%
2005 2.4%
2006 2.3%
2007 2.3%
2008 2.3%
2009 2.3%
2010 2.3%
2011 2.3%
2012 2.3%
2013 2.2%
2014 2.2%
2015 2.2%
2016 2.1%
2017 2.1%
2018 2.1%
2019 2.0%
2020 2.0%
2021 2.0%
2022 2.0%
2023 2.0%
2024 1.9%
2025 1.9%
2026 1.9%

In 2022 CBS switched to a new origin classification. Up to 2021 the line shows the old “migration background” figures; the overlap years show a small break (about +0.8 points nationally).

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