Fewer fatal drownings in 2021

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
Two members of the Maritime Rescue Squad on a jet ski speak to a man on an SUP paddle.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Olaf Kraak Fotografie
In 2021, altogether 80 Dutch residents died due to drowning in open water, or in or around the house. This is 27 fewer people than in the previous year. The number of fatal drownings is proportionally higher among migrants and their Netherlands-born children. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of provisional figures on causes of death.

The 80 deaths were due to accidental drowning. Over the past decade, 73 percent of such cases took place in open water: in a ditch, river, canal, lake, pond or in the sea. Twenty-one percent of drownings happened in or around the home.

Declining number of drownings among children since the 1950s

Since 1950, the number of accidental drownings has fallen sharply, especially among children under 10. Since the 1980s, the decrease in the number of accidental drownings has been less pronounced. In recent decades, the number of accidental drownings has been highest among people aged 60 and over.

Deaths due to accidental drowning, standardised
JaarUnder 10 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants)10 to 19 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants)20 to 39 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants)40 to 59 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants)60 yrs and over (per 100 thousand inhabitants)
195011.83.92.33.05.4
19519.82.72.22.25.2
19529.53.21.93.24.7
195311.34.12.01.74.1
19549.83.01.61.84.9
19559.14.22.01.96.6
19568.82.41.31.74.9
19579.34.22.01.56.7
19589.92.71.31.94.1
195910.04.52.31.34.3
19609.12.00.91.04.7
19619.53.01.71.24.4
19627.62.51.11.53.9
19639.52.41.51.23.9
19648.52.91.31.54.6
19658.01.91.41.73.3
19668.72.91.21.65.0
19678.43.21.61.33.9
19686.71.61.11.43.3
19696.72.11.41.03.0
19706.11.61.21.22.7
19716.70.91.31.02.7
19726.11.00.81.22.8
19736.11.21.21.42.1
19746.00.60.61.32.3
19755.40.71.21.62.4
19764.90.80.91.52.2
19774.10.40.30.31.9
19784.30.50.70.81.7
19794.30.50.40.71.6
19803.10.40.50.71.1
19813.90.50.70.91.5
19824.30.60.70.91.7
19832.90.40.71.11.4
19842.50.40.50.90.7
19852.40.60.30.81.0
19862.30.40.60.90.8
19872.10.40.20.70.8
19882.00.20.30.60.9
19891.60.20.30.71.4
19902.30.50.30.70.9
19911.90.30.20.30.8
19921.70.30.30.51.1
19931.70.20.30.60.7
19941.60.50.40.50.9
19951.50.30.30.51.0
19961.50.30.30.40.3
19971.80.30.30.50.8
19981.20.10.40.50.6
19991.40.40.40.40.7
20001.20.10.30.81.2
20010.90.30.20.60.9
20021.40.40.20.71.4
20030.70.30.30.61.0
20041.00.30.20.71.0
20050.90.20.20.51.1
20060.70.20.10.61.2
20070.50.30.30.41.0
20080.70.20.20.40.9
20090.70.10.30.60.8
20100.50.50.30.40.9
20110.20.10.40.50.9
20120.50.30.30.50.9
20130.40.50.20.50.9
20140.50.30.20.31.0
20150.40.10.40.41.1
20160.40.30.30.41.0
20170.40.40.40.50.8
20180.40.30.50.61.2
20190.30.20.30.30.9
20200.30.30.40.51.2
2021*0.30.30.40.30.7
* provisional figures

More drownings among children not born in the Netherlands

For both migrants and their children, the number of drownings is proportionally higher than for people with a Dutch background. This appears to be the case for those with a non-European migration background in particular.
Among non-European migrants under the age of 20, the risk of drowning was 9 to 10 times higher than among young people born in the Netherlands. However, children of non-European migrants under the age of 10, who were born in the Netherlands but whose parents were not, also have a higher risk of drowning than children of Dutch origin. Compared to their peers of Dutch origin, the risk of drowning is particularly higher among people aged 20 and over who are of non-European origin, but the difference is smaller than among young people.
Among migrants of European origin, the differences are generally small as well. Within that group, the risk of drowning is higher only for 20 to 39-year-olds.

Deaths due to accidental drowning (standardised), 2012-2021*
LeeftijdDutch origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants)Migrants of non-European origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants)Children of migrants of non-European origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants)
Under 10 yrs0.292.600.99
10 to 19 yrs0.212.110.21
20 to 39 yrs0.221.020.47
40 to 59 yrs0.350.980.48
60 yrs and over0.941.150.23
* provisional figures

Also drownings due to suicide or transport accident

Apart from accidental drownings, people also die every year from drowning caused, for example, by a traffic accident or suicide. In 2021, in addition to the 80 accidental drowning deaths, 38 people died from drowning in traffic and 86 people drowned by suicide. The number of drowning suicides by drowning has decreased slightly over the past ten years, while drownings in traffic have remained stable.
All causes of drowning involve more male than female victims, and people over 60 are also over-represented.

Causes of fatal drowning
JaarAccidental drowningsSuicides by drowningFatal transport accidents Drownings due to other causes
201281123325
201384106314
201477113387
201583112346
201686113487
201785113406
201811296476
20197690477
202010791376
2021*8086386
* provisional figures

Drownings in the Netherlands include non-residents

Between 2012 and 2021, 394 people who were not residents, such as tourists or temporary workers, also drowned in the Netherlands. Of these cases, 220 were accidental drownings, 92 were suicides and 48 were the result of a transport accident. Aroundbout 6 out of 10 drowned non-residents were from Germany, Poland or Belgium.

Do you need help? Please contact 113 Suicide Prevention (available 24/7) by calling 0900 0113 or seek help online via 113.nl.