Where does Statistics Netherlands (CBS) get its data from?

Statistics Netherlands uses many sources to compile its statistics. Perhaps the best-known method is carrying out surveys. Our interviewers visit people and businesses in person or by telephone to ask them questions, but this method is costly and time-consuming. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, Statistics Netherlands has increasingly switched to sourcing its data from the administrative records of other government institutions. Examples include the Tax Administration (Belastingdienst), local authorities across the Netherlands, the Dutch Vehicle Registration Authority (RDW) and the Department of Waterways and Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat). In addition to government records, Statistics Netherlands has also started using company records in recent years, such as data from supermarket checkouts, which is used to calculate price changes.