Majority of Dutch public trusts military, but confidence in politicians remains low

Nearly 7 out of 10 Dutch residents aged 15 and older expressed confidence in the military in 2024, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Trust in the armed forces reached 68 percent last year, making it the third most trusted institution in the country, behind the police and the judiciary.

In contrast, confidence in political institutions remained significantly lower. Only 31 percent of Dutch residents said they trusted the Tweede Kamer in 2024, while just 25 percent expressed confidence in politicians. Trust in politics had briefly surged during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, with 53 percent trusting the Tweede Kamer and 40 percent trusting politicians. However, support plummeted by 2022 and has not recovered. In 2012, 36 percent of residents trusted the Tweede Kamer, and trust in politicians was not measured until 2016.

CBS based its findings on the Social Cohesion and Well-being survey, which has been conducted since 2012. The study included responses from nearly 100,000 individuals aged 15 and older. Over the past decade, trust in the military has increased, rising from 59 percent in 2012 to 68 percent in 2024. The highest level of confidence was recorded in 2020 and 2021, when trust reached a peak of 75 percent in early 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the second quarter of 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, trust in the military fell sharply to 61 percent—the lowest level in five years—before gradually recovering in the following quarters.

In 2024, young people were significantly more likely to trust the military than older residents. Among 15- to 25-year-olds, 76 percent said they had confidence in the armed forces. Trust declined steadily with age, with only 61 percent of those aged 65 and older expressing similar views. A comparable pattern emerged in relation to education. Among people with only primary education, 59 percent trusted the military, compared to 73 percent among university graduates and those with advanced degrees.

While the military enjoys considerable support, other institutions fared even better. In 2024, 79 percent of Dutch residents expressed trust in the police, while 78 percent had confidence in judges. Trust in both institutions has risen over the years. In 2012, only 68 percent trusted the police and 69 percent trusted judges. By 2024, trust in the police ranged from 69 percent among those with only primary education to 85 percent among those with higher education. Trust in judges followed a similar pattern, with 58 percent among those with only primary schooling and 90 percent among university-educated respondents.

Trust in the European Union has increased steadily over the past decade. In 2024, half of the Dutch population said they trusted the EU, compared to just 39 percent in 2012. Over the past five years, that figure has remained relatively stable, fluctuating around 50 percent.

CBS also reported a general rise in trust in other sectors. Confidence in the media, civil servants, and banks has grown since 2012. In addition, more people reported trust in others in general. In 2024, 66 percent of the Dutch population said they trusted other people, compared to 58 percent in 2012.