9 in 10 people access the internet every day

Access to the internet wherever and whenever you want: last year, 9 in 10 people accessed the internet on a daily basis. Today, Statistics Netherlands announced that a faster internet connection, more access and  a wider range of possibilities encourage people to engage in more online activities, like listening to the radio, reading the news, watching TV and e-shopping.

E-shopping increasingly popular

E-shopping is gaining popularity. Between 2005 and 2014, the proportion of e-shoppers rose from 50 to 77 percent. More than half of e-shoppers booked their holidays online and bought clothes online during the past twelve months. These products have topped the list of most popular online purchases for years.

Online listening to the radio and watching TV have also become more popular in recent years: the number of internet users listening to the radio and watching TV online grew from 26 percent in 2005 to 63 percent in 2014. More and more people decide to watch TV programmes when it is convenient for them.

The number of online newspaper readers increased from 35 to 59 percent between 2005 and 2014. The introduction of digital newspapers has contributed to a reduction in the demand for printed newspapers. Data presented by the Institute for Media Auditing show that the number of print newspaper copies sold between the third quarter of 2011 and 2014 declined by nearly 15 percent. Online banking has become widely accepted. Last year, 86 percent of internet users were engaged in online banking, versus only 58 percent in 2005.

High-speed internet connections available

In recent years, the Netherlands has always been in the European top 5 when it comes to fast broadband internet. High-speed internet prompts more internet activities. The share of households with internet access grew by 17 percentage points from more than 78 in 2005 to nearly 96 percent in 2014. Over the past four years, the number of internet connections seems to have reached saturation point.
The number of households with broadband connection has risen more rapidly; in 2005, 5 in every 10 households had broadband internet access, versus more than 9 in 10 households in 2014. In recent years, the number of fast internet connections has grown. Unlike in 2005, almost everybody had access to fast internet in 2014.

Mobile devices replace PCs

Most households have more than one device allowing them to access the internet. PCs and desktop computers are superseded by laptop computers and smartphones. In 2005, most people used PCs or desktop computers to access the internet; last year, most households had switched to laptop computers and mobile phones. With approximately 80 percent, the share of households using laptop computers to go online remained stable.

Tablet computers and - to a lesser extent - digital or smart TVs are gaining popularity as a means to access the internet. Smart TV complies with consumers’ needs for on-demand services, i.e. watching TV when it suits them. Between 2008 and 2012, the Dutch TV Audience Measurement Service (Stichting KijkOnderzoek) recorded an average rise in delayed viewing from 2.1 minutes a day in 2008 to 6.4 minutes in 2012.

More and more small mobile devices are available to go online and new devices are adopted more easily. In 2005, just over 1 in 10 households had mobile phones with internet access, versus nearly 8 in 10 in 2014.

90 percent of Dutch online every day

The proportion of people accessing the internet on a daily basis has risen from 68 percent in 2005 to 90 percent in 2014. The internet usage rate has increased noticeably among older people. More than three-quarters of 65 to 74-year-olds accessed the internet every day in 2014, versus 43 percent in 2005. In recent years, the use of browsers, online phone services and the sending of e-mails with attachments has risen rapidly among older people. As early as 2005, three-quarters of 12 to 24-year-olds already used the internet on a daily basis. The number of people who access the internet using mobile devices has increased considerably.