Sharp drop in traditional crime

© Hollandse Hoogte / Hans van Rhoon
In 2020, registered crime was down by 2 percent on the previous year. Certain types of traditional crime in particular, including pickpocketing (-47 percent), domestic burglary (-23 percent) and shoplifting (-13 percent), showed a decline. At the same time, the police registered more online crimes such as vendor fraud, forgery and hacking. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the basis of newly released figures.

Registered types of traditional crime
JaartalShoplifting (2010=100)Street robbery (2010=100)Domestic burglary (2010=100)Pickpocketing (2010=100)
2010100.00100.00100.00100.00
2011103.06103.21107.81105.58
2012103.4698.73111.35116.51
2013105.3586.92106.36131.47
2014102.3166.8986.39104.67
201598.5958.3578.4791.47
201695.5151.5767.3878.92
201792.0344.3759.6665.01
201891.8943.3452.0346.64
2019*96.2646.4347.8839.96
2020*83.8738.8037.0721.15
*Provisional figures.

CBS did not research causal links between the coronavirus pandemic and crime figures; however, it is likely that last year’s crime rates were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken in that context. Pickpocketing became harder and the higher prevalence of working from home reduced the likelihood of house burglaring. Furthermore, it is very likely that the (partial or complete) store closings and limited access to shops are closely linked to the decline in shoplifting.

The decline in registered crime in 2020 is mainly attributable to a strong decrease in particular types of traditional crime. The most striking trend was the sharp drop (-47 percent) in pickpocketing cases, to a total of 7 thousand.

Furthermore, the police registered over 30 thousand domestic burglary cases (-23 percent) and 16 percent fewer incidences of street robbery to a total of slightly over 3 thousand. Last year, the police recorded 35 thousand shoplifting cases (-13 percent).

Online crime rising

In 2020, just as in the three preceding years, an increase was recorded in police-registered online crime including digital forgery, online fraud and hacking. The incidence of these types of crime combined rose by 54 percent year-on-year. Police crime records show these types of crimes to have more than doubled since 2017.

Decline in number of underage suspects

Last year, the police registered altogether 148 thousand crime suspects, 15 thousand of whom were minor suspects (-18 percent). The number of pickpocketing suspects declined by more than half among minors. The decline among minor (under 18) and young suspects (18 to 24 years) involved in domestic burglary and shoplifting by approximately one-third was stronger than among other age groups.

Registered suspects, 2020*
CategoriePickpocketing (% change relative to 2019)Domestic burglary (% change relative to 2019)Shoplifting (% change relative to 2019)Street robbery (% change relative to 2019)
12 to 17 yrs-54.55-33.33-27.63-3.53
18 to 24 yrs-42.31-30.11-26.54-28.30
25 to 44 yrs-41.67-15.58-11.01-24.00
45 yrs and over-50.00-11.90-12.39-33.33
*Provisional figures.

Mainly fewer house burglaries in Amsterdam

Among the four largest cities, the largest decline in house burglaries in absolute terms was recorded in Amsterdam (i.e. 1,000 fewer cases), where the number of house burglaries showed a year-on-year decline of 29 percent.

 

In The Hague and Rotterdam, the number of house burglaries declined by 23 percent, equal to the average in the rest of the country. The decline was much less pronounced in Utrecht at 10 percent.

By contrast, in 65 of the 355 municipalities, domestic burglary showed a year-on-year rise.

House burglaries, 2020*
Gemeentenaamyear-on-year % change (% change relative to 2019)
Appingedam
Delfzijl-63
Groningen (gemeente)-37
Loppersum
Almere-23
Stadskanaal-44
Veendam-33
Zeewolde-38
Achtkarspelen-34
Ameland
Harlingen
Heerenveen-20
Leeuwarden-17
Ooststellingwerf-44
Opsterland-52
Schiermonnikoog
Smallingerland-32
Terschelling
Vlieland
Weststellingwerf-73
Assen42
Coevorden-6
Emmen-41
Hoogeveen-9
Meppel-16
Almelo-16
Borne-13
Dalfsen-25
Deventer-15
Enschede12
Haaksbergen33
Hardenberg-28
Hellendoorn-16
Hengelo (O.)10
Kampen-23
Losser3
Noordoostpolder-42
Oldenzaal11
Ommen-40
Raalte-27
Staphorst-33
Tubbergen
Urk44
Wierden-44
Zwolle-11
Aalten-40
Apeldoorn-16
Arnhem-23
Barneveld-38
Beuningen0
Brummen-10
Buren-22
Culemborg-51
Doesburg
Doetinchem-10
Druten-64
Duiven-6
Ede-2
Elburg-27
Epe-13
Ermelo-34
Harderwijk-25
Hattem-45
Heerde-45
Heumen-29
Lochem-36
Maasdriel-10
Nijkerk-16
Nijmegen-33
Oldebroek73
Putten-10
Renkum-44
Rheden-10
Rozendaal
Scherpenzeel38
Tiel-3
Voorst-9
Wageningen44
Westervoort-29
Winterswijk4
Wijchen-51
Zaltbommel-41
Zevenaar-46
Zutphen-47
Nunspeet39
Dronten-19
Amersfoort-35
Baarn-14
De Bilt-11
Bunnik58
Bunschoten30
Eemnes-29
Houten32
Leusden-39
Lopik93
Montfoort22
Renswoude67
Rhenen-30
Soest-41
Utrecht (gemeente)-10
Veenendaal-22
Woudenberg74
Wijk bij Duurstede-34
IJsselstein-40
Zeist11
Nieuwegein-47
Aalsmeer-15
Alkmaar7
Amstelveen0
Amsterdam-29
Beemster-65
Bergen (NH.)-52
Beverwijk-49
Blaricum-14
Bloemendaal-38
Castricum-61
Diemen-21
Edam-Volendam-52
Enkhuizen-27
Haarlem-47
Haarlemmermeer-36
Heemskerk-41
Heemstede-47
Heerhugowaard8
Heiloo-26
Den Helder44
Hilversum-26
Hoorn-13
Huizen-23
Landsmeer38
Langedijk-22
Laren (NH.)-2
Medemblik-31
Oostzaan-38
Opmeer-26
Ouder-Amstel-39
Purmerend-4
Schagen-47
Texel
Uitgeest19
Uithoorn-32
Velsen-39
Weesp-38
Zandvoort-55
Zaanstad-22
Alblasserdam-14
Alphen aan den Rijn8
Barendrecht-7
Drechterland-59
Brielle-23
Capelle aan den IJssel-7
Delft-24
Dordrecht-23
Gorinchem24
Gouda-3
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)-23
Hardinxveld-Giessendam-54
Hellevoetsluis-44
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht-13
Stede Broec-82
Hillegom-45
Katwijk-24
Krimpen aan den IJssel40
Leiden-29
Leiderdorp-21
Lisse-17
Maassluis-49
Nieuwkoop-17
Noordwijk-27
Oegstgeest25
Oudewater81
Papendrecht-30
Ridderkerk-29
Rotterdam-23
Rijswijk (ZH.)22
Schiedam-15
Sliedrecht-17
Albrandswaard-51
Westvoorne-3
Vlaardingen5
Voorschoten13
Waddinxveen-2
Wassenaar-45
Woerden-6
Zoetermeer-6
Zoeterwoude0
Zwijndrecht35
Borsele-33
Goes-15
West Maas en Waal-12
Hulst0
Kapelle
Middelburg (Z.)-13
Reimerswaal-48
Terneuzen9
Tholen26
Veere-20
Vlissingen40
De Ronde Venen4
Tytsjerksteradiel-11
Asten-47
Baarle-Nassau
Bergen op Zoom58
Best-49
Boekel-39
Boxmeer-38
Boxtel-57
Breda-10
Deurne-18
Pekela-58
Dongen-20
Eersel-40
Eindhoven-26
Etten-Leur-11
Geertruidenberg-29
Gilze en Rijen-44
Goirle10
Grave-48
Haaren-16
Helmond-27
's-Hertogenbosch-6
Heusden0
Hilvarenbeek-36
Loon op Zand-42
Mill en Sint Hubert-13
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten-20
Oirschot0
Oisterwijk-32
Oosterhout-13
Oss-19
Rucphen-14
Sint-Michielsgestel13
Someren-46
Son en Breugel-49
Steenbergen-33
Waterland0
Tilburg-8
Uden-6
Valkenswaard22
Veldhoven-1
Vught19
Waalre-36
Waalwijk-34
Woensdrecht-5
Zundert-14
Wormerland32
Landgraaf-48
Beek (L.)-35
Beesel-16
Bergen (L.)0
Brunssum-66
Gennep-51
Heerlen-36
Kerkrade-37
Maastricht-38
Meerssen-39
Mook en Middelaar-38
Nederweert-52
Roermond-42
Simpelveld-28
Stein (L.)-57
Vaals-33
Venlo-38
Venray-24
Voerendaal-42
Weert-38
Valkenburg aan de Geul-38
Lelystad-13
Horst aan de Maas-25
Oude IJsselstreek-27
Teylingen-5
Utrechtse Heuvelrug10
Oost Gelre-41
Koggenland-45
Lansingerland-32
Leudal-61
Maasgouw-58
Gemert-Bakel21
Halderberge4
Heeze-Leende-22
Laarbeek42
Reusel-De Mierden-62
Roerdalen-35
Roosendaal-3
Schouwen-Duiveland11
Aa en Hunze-35
Borger-Odoorn-62
Cuijk-55
Landerd-3
De Wolden-12
Noord-Beveland22
Wijdemeren-72
Noordenveld-41
Twenterand-34
Westerveld-42
Sint Anthonis-22
Lingewaard-17
Cranendonck-58
Steenwijkerland-33
Moerdijk-20
Echt-Susteren-4
Sluis15
Drimmelen-51
Bernheze-33
Alphen-Chaam-3
Bergeijk-50
Bladel-37
Gulpen-Wittem48
Tynaarlo-17
Midden-Drenthe61
Overbetuwe-19
Hof van Twente-10
Neder-Betuwe6
Rijssen-Holten-3
Geldrop-Mierlo-48
Olst-Wijhe-43
Dinkelland-10
Westland-31
Midden-Delfland-18
Berkelland-54
Bronckhorst23
Sittard-Geleen-48
Kaag en Braassem-56
Dantumadiel-40
Zuidplas-5
Peel en Maas-43
Oldambt9
Zwartewaterland-54
Súdwest-Fryslân-16
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk28
Eijsden-Margraten-40
Stichtse Vecht-32
Hollands Kroon0
Leidschendam-Voorburg15
Goeree-Overflakkee-13
Pijnacker-Nootdorp-11
Nissewaard-29
Krimpenerwaard1
De Fryske Marren-54
Gooise Meren5
Berg en Dal-53
Meierijstad-21
Waadhoeke-56
Westerwolde-28
Midden-Groningen-55
Beekdaelen-26
Montferland-45
Altena-32
West Betuwe28
Vijfheerenlanden-13
Hoeksche Waard-24
Het Hogeland-50
Westerkwartier-18
Noardeast-Fryslân-42
Molenlanden-28
*Provisional figures.