migration-background.nl

Origins

Non-European origin in the Netherlands

On 1 January 2026, 3,531,807 residents of the Netherlands (19.5% of the population) had an origin outside Europe.

Africa, the Americas, Asia (incl. Turkey) and Oceania

Residents
3,531,807 on 1 January 2026
Share of population
19.5%
Change since 2022
+1.9 pp
Born abroad
56.6%

Share per municipality

Outside Europe, share of residents

See on the postcode map →

Municipalities with the highest share

  1. Rotterdam South Holland 44.9% 302,675
  2. Amsterdam North Holland 43.4% 409,165
  3. Den Haag South Holland 43.0% 244,900
  4. Almere Flevoland 42.5% 98,805
  5. Amstelveen North Holland 39.8% 38,120
  6. Diemen North Holland 38.2% 12,735
  7. Schiedam South Holland 35.0% 28,705
  8. Capelle aan den IJssel South Holland 34.7% 24,220
  9. Rijswijk South Holland 33.2% 20,565
  10. Eindhoven North Brabant 31.8% 79,320
  11. Zoetermeer South Holland 31.5% 41,185
  12. Lelystad Flevoland 30.5% 26,190

Municipalities with the most residents of this origin

  1. Amsterdam North Holland 409,165 43.4%
  2. Rotterdam South Holland 302,675 44.9%
  3. Den Haag South Holland 244,900 43.0%
  4. Utrecht Utrecht 114,995 30.4%
  5. Almere Flevoland 98,805 42.5%
  6. Eindhoven North Brabant 79,320 31.8%
  7. Arnhem Gelderland 51,350 29.9%
  8. Tilburg North Brabant 50,105 21.7%
  9. Zaanstad North Holland 49,595 30.0%
  10. Groningen Groningen 45,680 18.7%
  11. Haarlemmermeer North Holland 45,280 27.1%
  12. Haarlem North Holland 42,265 25.0%

Cities and villages with the highest share

  1. Heemserveen Hardenberg, Overijssel 61.6% 505
  2. Rotterdam South Holland 46.7% 284,470
  3. Amsterdam North Holland 44.0% 403,115
  4. Den Haag South Holland 43.0% 244,900
  5. Katwoude Waterland, North Holland 42.7% 220
  6. Almere Flevoland 42.5% 98,805
  7. Amstelveen North Holland 39.8% 38,120
  8. Zaandam Zaanstad, North Holland 39.0% 32,960
  9. Diemen North Holland 38.2% 12,735
  10. Hoogvliet Rotterdam Rotterdam, South Holland 37.3% 13,720
  11. Duivendrecht Ouder-Amstel, North Holland 35.1% 1,885
  12. Schiedam South Holland 35.0% 28,705

Places with at least 500 residents.

Postcodes with the highest share

  1. 2526 Den Haag, South Holland 82.8% 10,425
  2. 3029 Rotterdam, South Holland 81.6% 5,220
  3. 2525 Den Haag, South Holland 77.2% 13,790
  4. 1104 Amsterdam, North Holland 73.3% 11,775
  5. 1102 Amsterdam, North Holland 71.9% 19,205
  6. 3074 Rotterdam, South Holland 71.4% 8,575
  7. 2532 Den Haag, South Holland 70.8% 4,520
  8. 3027 Rotterdam, South Holland 70.7% 7,085
  9. 1067 Amsterdam, North Holland 70.5% 14,875
  10. 1101 Amsterdam, North Holland 70.4% 1,520
  11. 2533 Den Haag, South Holland 70.2% 5,285
  12. 2572 Den Haag, South Holland 68.4% 6,595

Places with at least 500 residents.

Trend since 1998

Measure
Show as table
Year Netherlands
1998 11.1%
1999 11.5%
2000 11.8%
2001 12.2%
2002 12.6%
2003 12.9%
2004 13.1%
2005 13.3%
2006 13.4%
2007 13.4%
2008 13.6%
2009 13.8%
2010 14.0%
2011 14.1%
2012 14.3%
2013 14.4%
2014 14.6%
2015 14.7%
2016 15.0%
2017 15.4%
2018 15.7%
2019 16.0%
2020 16.3%
2021 16.6%
2022 17.6%
2023 18.1%
2024 18.5%
2025 19.0%
2026 19.5%

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).

Explore by origin