Almost 7 in 10 Dutch people have confidence in the military

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A total of 68 percent of the population aged 15 or older said they trusted the military in 2024. That was up from 59 percent in 2012. Only the police and the judiciary were trusted by more people. Young people have more confidence in the military than older people. This is according to the survey on social cohesion and well-being, conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The survey was conducted between 2012 and 2024 among almost 100 thousand people aged 15 years or older. Trust in the military increased from 59 percent in 2012 to 64 percent from 2015 to 2018. It peaked at 72 percent in 2020 and 2021.

In Q2 2022, just after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, trust in the military fell to 61 percent. That was the lowest level of the past five years. It then recovered in subsequent quarters.

Older people trust the military less than younger people

The survey also found that just over three-quarters of people aged 15 to 25 trusted the military in 2024. Trust in the military decreases gradually with age. People aged over 65 had the lowest level of trust in the military, at 61 percent.

Trust in the police and judiciary is up

In 2024, the only institutions that enjoyed a higher level of trust than the army were the police and the judiciary (79 and 78 percent, respectively). Trust in the police and the judiciary has increased over the years. In 2012, 68 percent and 69 percent of the population trusted these institutions, respectively.

When it comes to trust in the police and the judiciary, however, the differences between age groups are less pronounced than for confidence in the military. The differences between different levels of educational attainment are greater. In 2024, confidence in the police ranged between 69 percent among those with only primary education to 85 percent among college and university graduates. For trust in the judiciary, the difference ranged between 58 percent (primary education only) to 90 percent (university graduates).

Trust in the EU is up, trust in politicians is down

Trust in the press, the civil service, banks and the European Union (EU) was higher in 2024 than it was in 2012. A total of 50 percent of the population aged 15 or older trusted the EU in 2024. This has remained fairly stable over the past five years. In 2012, it was 39 percent.

Trust in politicians and in the Dutch House of Representatives dropped after 2020, the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. Trust in the Dutch House of Representatives had been on the rise since 2012, and trust in politicians had been rising since 2016, both peaking at the start of the pandemic. In the first year of the pandemic, 53 percent said they trusted the Dutch House of Representatives and 40 percent trusted politicians. After that, there was a drop to 30 percent and 24 percent in 2022, but this decline has not continued.

Trust in fellow citizens has increased

In 2024, 66 percent of the population said they trusted their fellow citizens. That was more than in 2012, when 58 percent said that they did so. After that, trust in fellow citizens rose steadily.