Urk has the most young people, Schiermonnikoog the fewest

Urk has had the highest proportion of young people aged under 25 for many decades, followed by Staphorst and Barneveld. The birth rate in these municipalities is higher than average, which means that, proportionally, more people aged under 18 live there.

Student towns such as Wageningen, Groningen and Delft also have a relatively high proportion of young residents. This is mainly due to the proportion of young adults: 20 percent, 19 percent and 18 percent of residents, respectively, are aged between 18 and 24. This also applies to Maastricht (19 percent), which is also one of the municipalities with the lowest percentage of under 18s (12 percent).

By contrast, other municipalities in Limburg, such as Gulpen-Wittem and Valkenburg aan de Geul are among those with relatively few young residents. Schiermonnikoog has the lowest share of young people aged under 25, at 17 percent.

More young adults aged 18 to 24 years

The number of children aged under 18 has fallen compared with 2025, but the number of young adults aged between 18 and 24 has risen. According to the Population Forecast for 2025–2069, the number of young adults is expected to fall again over the next few years. This is partly due to fluctuations in the birth rate. In particular, fewer children were born after 2010, meaning that the cohorts turning 18 over the next few years will be smaller. Meanwhile, the relatively larger cohorts currently still in the 18 to 24 age group will turn 25. As a result, fewer 18-year-olds will enter this age group over the next few years than there will be 25-year-olds leaving this group.

More young people born outside the Netherlands

At the beginning of 2026, 12 percent of young people were born outside the Netherlands (588 thousand). The largest group were born in another European country, followed by those born in Asia. In addition, 21 percent of young people were born in the Netherlands but have one or two parents who were born abroad (over 1.0 million young people). Among these, young people of Moroccan origin make up the largest group, followed by those of Turkish or Surinamese origin. Two-thirds of young people are of Dutch origin: they were born in the Netherlands and have two parents who were also born in the Netherlands (nearly 3.3 million).

The breakdown by origin has changed over the past ten years. In 2016, 7 percent of young people were born outside the Netherlands, and nearly 20 percent were second-generation (born in the Netherlands with one or both parents born abroad). Nearly three-quarters of young people were of Dutch origin in 2016.

In particular, the number of young people born in Syria or Ukraine is higher than it was in 2016. More Syrians and Ukrainians have come to the Netherlands in recent years due to the political situation in those countries. In addition, the most significant increase was been seen among young people born in Türkiye, Eritrea or India who are in the top five of groups that have grown the most over the past ten years.

More detailed figures on young people in the annual report of the National Youth Monitor

The figures in this news release are taken from the 2026 annual report of the National Youth Monitor. This report focuses on the living conditions of young people in the Netherlands. In addition to demographic trends, it examines various social issues including youth care, children living in poverty, school, work, crime and safety, drug use, physical activity and well-being. It also features the living conditions of young people in the Caribbean Netherlands. This year’s thematic chapter focuses on young people who are neither in employment nor in education.