The Netherlands is set to hit a significant demographic milestone today, surpassing 18 million residents. This surge is largely attributed to immigration, with Ukrainians and Syrians among the most prominent groups contributing to the growth, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. While the western Randstad region has experienced rapid population expansion, the northern provinces of Drenthe, Friesland, and Groningen have seen more gradual changes.
Friesland’s population has grown steadily, with nearly 16,000 new residents added since 2016, bringing the total to around 662,000. Leeuwarden, the province’s capital, led the way, welcoming over 7,200 new inhabitants. Meanwhile, the island of Vlieland recorded the highest relative growth, with its population swelling by 15.9% – a gain of 172 residents. This stands in contrast to the more modest increases seen in other parts of the province, such as Terschelling and Dantumadiel, where growth rates were just 0.57% and 0.63%, respectively.
In Groningen, the picture is mixed. While some areas have seen population growth, particularly due to migration, others are experiencing a decline. Several municipalities in the northeast of Groningen are among the few in the Netherlands where the population has decreased over the past eight years. Looking ahead, these areas are projected to continue shrinking, with Eemsdelta, for example, expected to see a population drop of 12.6%.
Drenthe, too, has seen modest population growth, but it faces challenges similar to those in northern Groningen. Smaller municipalities in Drenthe are projected to experience population declines in the coming years. Like Friesland and Groningen, Drenthe’s population is aging, with more residents over 65 and fewer children being born. This demographic trend could have significant implications for the province’s future development and growth.
A key trend across the northern provinces, as in the rest of the Netherlands, is the aging population. There are now fewer young people and a growing number of residents over 65. This demographic shift is particularly evident in smaller municipalities, where declining birth rates and higher mortality rates are reshaping the local population landscape.
