Half of Dutch population think their neighbourhoods are subject to decay

In 2007, more than half of the Dutch population indicated that dog droppings, street litter, vandalised bus and tram shelters and graffiti on walls and buildings were a major source of annoyance. City dwellers, in particular those living in special-attention areas, were faced with these problems.

Dog dirt main problem

Nationwide, over one third of the Dutch population mentioned dog droppings, 20 percent street litter and 16 percent vandalised bus and tram shelters as their key source of annoyance.

Aspects of urban decay

Aspects of urban decay

Urbanised areas suffer most

City dwellers, more than people living in smaller communities, have to cope with a continuous process of decay in their neighbourhoods. In very highly urbanised municipalities 61 percent of the population face various forms of annoyance in their neighbourhoods, as against 54 percent in moderately urbanised areas and only 43 percent in rural areas. Residents of neighbourhoods requiring special attention suffer most.

Aspects of urban decay by type of district

Aspects of urban decay by type of district

Urban decay most frequent in special-attention districts

All forms of decay are more common in special-attention areas than in other municipal districts. It appears that 71 percent of residents of special-attention areas frequently face various forms of decay, as opposed to 55 percent of residents of other municipal districts.
Remarkably, ‘street litter’ is mentioned twice as often by residents of special-attention areas as by residents living in other districts. 

Leanne Houben