1 in 10 people felt discriminated against in 2023

© CBS
In 2023, 1 in 10 people in the Netherlands said they had felt discriminated against at some point in the past twelve months. That is equivalent to 1.6 million people, similar to the figure for 2021. Race or skin colour and nationality were the most frequently mentioned reasons for discrimination. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of the 2023 Safety Monitor, a survey in which more than 180 thousand people participated.
More women than men experienced discrimination, and more young people than older people. There were also differences by sexual orientation: homosexual men and women were more likely to experience discrimination, at over 20 percent. Second-generation migrants with a non-European background in particular, also felt discriminated against in the previous twelve months (25 percent), as did those of Dutch-Moroccan or Dutch-Surinamese origin.


Race or skin colour mentioned most often as reasons for discrimination

There are several different factors that can lead people to experience discrimination. Among people aged 15 years and above, the majority of people (over 4 percent) felt discriminated against due to their race or skin colour. Second-generation Dutch-Surinamese migrants were the most likely to experience this. A further 4 percent of respondents said they had also experienced discrimination because of their nationality, followed by discrimination based on gender (3 percent).


In the street is where discrimination occurs the most often

In 2023, 4 percent of all people aged 15 years or older said they had experienced discrimination on the streets in the previous twelve months. People also encounter forms of discrimination in the workplace relatively often, and in shops.


Half of those experiencing discrimination have less trust in others as a result

Nearly one-third of those who experienced discrimination reported emotional or mental health issues, physical injuries and/or financial problems as a result. Emotional or mental health issues were mentioned the most frequently, at 28 percent. Furthermore, 6 percent said they have (or have had) financial problems due to discrimination and 1 percent reported physical injury.

Discrimination is also associated with lower levels of trust in other people. Around half (51 percent) of those who experienced discrimination said that their trust in others was lower as a result. Perceived safety was also lower at 21 percent, while 15 percent suffered depressive symptoms and 11 percent had trouble sleeping.