Nearly three quarters of the Dutch population use smart devices

A smart gas meter in an old home.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Richard Brocken
Nearly three quarters of the Dutch population aged 12 and over currently own one or more devices that are connected to the internet and transfer data to one another without human intervention. This is referred to as the Internet of Things. Smart meters for water, gas or electricity are particularly popular. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported this after a survey on ICT usage among households and individuals, conducted between April and July 2020 among 6.5 thousand people aged 12 and over.

How many Dutch people use the Internet of Things?59% 14% 11% Smart thermostat 27% 20% 6% Smoke detectors, security cameras or other security systems Lighting, smart plugs or other systems for smart living Household appliancesHow many Dutch people use the Internet of Things?59%14%11%Smart thermostat27%20%6%Smoke detectors, security cameras or other security systemsLighting, smart plugs or other systems for smart livingHousehold appliances

Refrigerators, ovens, speakers, lighting and much more can be connected to the internet. These devices send and receive data online. Taken altogether, these are referred to as the Internet of Things or the Internet of Everything. Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of the Dutch population aged 12 years or older indicated in 2020 that they had such a ‘smart’ device or system at home. 59 percent had a smart water, gas or electricity meter at home that can be read remotely. Over a quarter used a smart thermostat and two in ten a virtual assistant (e.g. Siri, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Bixby) that can be controlled via an app or a smart speaker.

Lighting, smart plugs or other systems for smart living as well as smoke detectors, security cameras or other security systems are less commonly used: 14 and 11 percent, respectively, said they used such systems at home. Six percent had household appliances such as a robot vacuum cleaner, refrigerator or coffeemaker that were connected to the internet at home.

The Internet of Things at home, 2020
ToepassingUsage (% of people
aged 12 and over)
Total72
Smart water, gas or
electricity meter
59
Smart thermostat27
Virtual assistant via app
or smart speaker
20
Smart lighting, smart plugs or
other smart-living systems
14
Smoke detectors, security cameras
or other safety systems
11
Smart home appliances6

Some have no need for smart devices

Some people see the Internet of Things as a technological leap forward, while others exhibit reluctance. Of those who indicated not to use smart devices or systems at home, 77 percent cited a lack of need as the reason. High costs or concerns about privacy or security were each cited by a quarter as (one of the) reasons.

Less-frequently cited reasons were unfamiliarity with such devices and systems, unfamiliarity with their use, concerns about personal safety and health and that other devices at home could not be connected to the internet.

Reason for not having smart devices at home1), 2020
RedenReason for not having smart device (% of people aged 12 and over
without smart device at home)
No need77
Too expensive29
Privacy or safety concerns25
Unfamiliarity with smart devices10
Unfamiliarity with their use6
Concerned about health risks5
Unable to connect other devices3
1)More than one answer possible

Smartwatch and activity tracker in demand

In addition to smart devices and systems for the home, nearly 20 percent used smart accessories, such as a smartwatch or activity tracker. Ten percent had a car with a built-in internet connection. In 2020, six percent used smart devices for health, such as scales or a blood pressure monitor. In 2020, six percent used smart devices for health, such as scales or a blood pressure monitor.
The Netherlands takes the lead in smart home devices
The Netherlands is ahead of the rest in Europe when it comes to share of the population owning a smart electricity meter, thermostat or smart lighting. In 2020, 69 percent of the population aged 16 to 74 years owned such devices; the EU average was 8 percent. The reason for the Netherlands’ top position in the EU ranking is the availability of smart water, gas and electricity meters in many Dutch households.
The Netherlands is also a front runner in the use of virtual assistants via an app or smart speaker; in 2020 these were used by 20 percent. The EU average was 11 percent. Less popular in the Netherlands are smart smoke detectors, security cameras and household appliances such as automatic vacuum cleaners, smart refrigerators or smart coffee makers; in 2020 the Netherlands ranked sixth and seventh respectively in the use of such devices.