Origins

Migration background in the Netherlands

On 1 January 2026, 5,271,067 residents of the Netherlands (29.1% of the population) had a migration background.

Born abroad, or at least one parent born abroad

Residents
5,271,067 on 1 January 2026
Share of population
29.1%
Change since 2022
+3.1 pp
Born abroad
59.3%

Share per municipality

Migration background, share of residents <15%, 15%–18%, 18%–25%, 25%–30%, 30%–45%, 45%–60%, ≥60%

See on the postcode map →

Municipalities with the highest share

Municipalities with the highest share

  1. Den Haag South Holland 61.1% 348,075
  2. Amsterdam North Holland 60.7% 571,895
  3. Rotterdam South Holland 57.9% 390,000
  4. Diemen North Holland 55.9% 18,630
  5. Vaals Limburg 55.5% 5,610
  6. Amstelveen North Holland 54.7% 52,400
  7. Almere Flevoland 51.6% 120,135
  8. Schiedam South Holland 49.4% 40,470
  9. Eindhoven North Brabant 46.9% 117,160
  10. Rijswijk South Holland 45.0% 27,850
  11. Capelle aan den IJssel South Holland 43.7% 30,495
  12. Delft South Holland 43.5% 47,910

Municipalities with the most residents of this origin

  1. Amsterdam North Holland 571,895 60.7%
  2. Rotterdam South Holland 390,000 57.9%
  3. Den Haag South Holland 348,075 61.1%
  4. Utrecht Utrecht 156,790 41.5%
  5. Almere Flevoland 120,135 51.6%
  6. Eindhoven North Brabant 117,160 46.9%
  7. Tilburg North Brabant 79,195 34.3%
  8. Groningen Groningen 73,310 30.0%
  9. Zaanstad North Holland 67,070 40.6%
  10. Arnhem Gelderland 67,005 39.0%
  11. Haarlem North Holland 64,495 38.2%
  12. Haarlemmermeer North Holland 61,625 36.9%

Cities and villages with the highest share

  1. Nieuw Namen Hulst, Zeeland 72.3% 705
  2. Eede Sluis, Zeeland 69.3% 665
  3. Vaals Limburg 63.2% 4,875
  4. Heemserveen Hardenberg, Overijssel 62.8% 515
  5. Amsterdam North Holland 61.5% 562,835
  6. Den Haag South Holland 61.1% 348,075
  7. Rotterdam South Holland 59.9% 364,875
  8. Diemen North Holland 55.9% 18,630
  9. Sluis Zeeland 55.0% 1,315
  10. Amstelveen North Holland 54.7% 52,400
  11. Sas van Gent Terneuzen, Zeeland 54.4% 2,190
  12. Putte Woensdrecht, North Brabant 53.0% 2,080

Places with at least 500 residents.

Postcodes with the highest share

  1. 9747 Groningen, Groningen 99.1% 555
  2. 2572 Den Haag, South Holland 94.3% 9,090
  3. 5145 Waalwijk, North Brabant 92.3% 895
  4. 2526 Den Haag, South Holland 92.1% 11,600
  5. 2525 Den Haag, South Holland 91.8% 16,405
  6. 3029 Rotterdam, South Holland 90.9% 5,815
  7. 1105 Amsterdam, North Holland 88.7% 2,910
  8. 1102 Amsterdam, North Holland 86.6% 23,110
  9. 3074 Rotterdam, South Holland 85.0% 10,205
  10. 1101 Amsterdam, North Holland 84.3% 1,820
  11. 2571 Den Haag, South Holland 84.0% 9,370
  12. 1104 Amsterdam, North Holland 82.6% 13,265

Places with at least 500 residents.

Trend since 1998

Measure
Show as table
Year Netherlands
1998 16.7%
1999 17.1%
2000 17.5%
2001 18.0%
2002 18.4%
2003 18.8%
2004 19.0%
2005 19.2%
2006 19.3%
2007 19.4%
2008 19.6%
2009 19.9%
2010 20.3%
2011 20.6%
2012 20.9%
2013 21.1%
2014 21.4%
2015 21.7%
2016 22.1%
2017 22.6%
2018 23.1%
2019 23.6%
2020 24.2%
2021 24.6%
2022 26.0%
2023 27.1%
2024 27.9%
2025 28.5%
2026 29.1%

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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