2 months Ago
Between 2020 and 2024, police identified a suspect in 97 percent of cases involving female victims. In 52 percent, the suspect was a partner or ex-partner, while 20 percent were killed by a family member. Most women lost their lives at home, often by stabbing or strangulation.
Patterns Among Male and Child Victims
For male victims, suspects were identified in 86 percent of cases. Around 32 percent of men were killed by acquaintances, while 11 percent died in criminal underworld conflicts. Over 70 percent of male victims were killed with either a firearm or a knife.
During the same period, 30 children under the age of 10 were murdered—16 boys and 14 girls. In 26 of these cases, a parent was responsible.
Long-Term Trends and Locations
The overall number of murder and manslaughter victims has dropped by more than half compared to the early 2000s. From 2000 to 2004, an average of 163 men and 74 women were killed annually. The number of murdered men fell steadily until 2016, peaked again in 2017, and then stabilized at about 82 per year.
Women’s numbers also declined but less sharply, averaging 43 per year over the past decade.
Last year, 73 percent of victims were aged between 20 and 60, 10 percent were under 20, and 17 percent were over 60.
Half of the murders occurred in large municipalities with more than 100,000 residents. Amsterdam recorded the highest number with 18 cases, followed by Rotterdam with 11 and The Hague with 10.
According to CBS, the Netherlands remains among the countries with the lowest murder rates in Europe, with only Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, and Slovenia recording fewer.
