Eight in 10 Dutch say freedom in Netherlands is under pressure, survey finds

Eight in 10 people in the Netherlands believe the country’s freedom is under pressure, according to a new survey by the EenVandaag opinion panel released Tuesday. The results align with findings from an earlier Hart van Nederland poll on the same day, which also highlighted widespread concern about polarization.

The survey of nearly 23,000 members of the EenVandaag Opiniepanel was conducted between May 1 and May 4 ahead of Liberation Day celebrations across the country.

Respondents said they were worried not only about international conflicts and unpredictable world leaders, but also about broader threats to freedom inside Dutch society.

Participants pointed to the rise of extremist ideologies and populist political parties, declining economic security, immigration, and what some described as "the loss of Dutch culture."

Others said people, politicians, and journalists increasingly hesitate to speak openly because of intimidation and threats. Similarly to those surveys by Hart van Nederland, some respondents blamed social media and algorithms for deepening divisions.

“The power of algorithms and the information you are and are not shown is a major concern,” one participant said. “We no longer see what connects us, but what divides us.”

Polarization was one of the most recurring themes in the responses. “I feel that we are an individualistic society in which everyone grants freedom to themselves but less to others,” one panel member said.

Some respondents accused politicians of fueling social tensions for political gain. “Certain politicians profit from this unrest and encourage it,” one participant stated.

Despite those concerns, 42 percent said ongoing wars and conflicts had made them appreciate freedom in the Netherlands more strongly. Respondents referred to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as policies pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“When I see how quickly a democracy can crumble, I cherish the freedom I have now,” one respondent said.

The survey also found divisions over how Liberation Day should be observed. A majority, 57 percent, said May 5 should primarily focus on freedom in the Netherlands, the remembrance of the victims, and the liberation of World War II, without mixing in other global issues.

But 36 percent disagreed and said current conflicts elsewhere in the world should also receive attention. “It is impossible for me to think about my freedom without paying attention to the horrors now happening in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon,” one participant said.

Regardless of those differences, 85 percent agreed it remains important to celebrate freedom in the Netherlands.

One respondent said the holiday deserves greater national importance. “I believe celebrating our freedom is far more important for our people than, for example, Easter Monday or Pentecost. I would gladly trade them,” the participant remarked.

Separate findings published Tuesday by the Hart van Nederland Panel also pointed to widespread unease about polarization and freedom in Dutch society. In that survey of 2,111 people, thirty-seven percent identified polarization as the biggest threat to freedom, followed by wars and international tensions at 34 percent.