Crime rate reduction most substantial in large municipalities

Registered crime in the large municipalities in the Netherlands decreased more than in the rest of the country. Relative to record year 2002, registered crime in large municipalities was reduced by 17 percent, as against 6 percent in other municipalities. The theft and burglary rate declined significantly.

Crimes registered by the police

Crime rate further down

In 2005, the police registered more than 1.2 million crimes, a reduction by 5 percent relative to one year previously. Compared to record year 2002, registered crime was reduced by 11 percent in 2005 and back to level of 1997/1998.

Nearly half of all crimes registered by the police in 2005 were committed in the 25 largest municipalities in the Netherlands. In 2005, a total of 554 thousand crimes were recorded, a 17 percent decrease compared to 2002. In other municipalities, the crime rate was reduced by 6 percent.

Registered crime in the four largest cities

Registered crime in Utrecht substantially down

In Utrecht, the crime rate per 1 thousand residents in the age group 12-79 fell most substantially compared to other large municipalities: from 277 in 2001 to 173 in 2005, but Utrecht is still the municipality with the highest crime rate. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Dordrecht, Haarlem and Tilburg also registered markedly lower crime rates per capita than several years ago.

Theft and burglary down

The decrease in total registered crime is mainly due to a reduction of the number of crimes against property, like theft and burglary (20 percent since 2002). Car burglaries have declined significantly since 2002. The number of registered cases of vandalism, on the other hand, increased by 6 percent, particularly from 2004 to 2005. 

The number of registered violent crimes has increased every year since 2002, but because the population has grown, the violent crime rate per 1 thousand inhabitants remained stable. In 2005 – just like in previous years – most violent crimes were recorded in Amsterdam and Rotterdam (17 per 1 thousand residents), followed by The Hague, Arnhem, Eindhoven and Tilburg with a rate of 14 per 1 thousand residents.

Registered crime by type of crime

Harry Eggen