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Social state of the Netherlands 2017 Social state of the Netherlands 2017 Social state of the Netherlands 2017 Eds. Rob Bijl Jeroen Boelhouwer Annemarie Wennekers The Netherlands Institute for Social Research The Hague, December 2017 The Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp was established by Royal Decree of March 30, 1973 with the following terms of reference: a to carry out research designed to produce a coherent picture of the state of social and cultural wel- fare in the Netherlands and likely developments in this area; b to contribute to the appropriate selection of policy objectives and to provide an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the various means of achieving those ends; c to seek information on the way in which interdepartmental policy on social and cultural welfare is implemented with a view to assessing its implementation. The work of the Netherlands Institute for Social Research focuses especially on problems coming under the responsibility of more than one Ministry. As Coordinating Minister for social and cultural welfare, the Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport is responsible for the policies pursued by the Netherlands Insti- tute for Social Research. With regard to the main lines of such policies the Minister consults the Minis- ters of General Affairs; Security and Justice; the Interior and Kingdom Relations; Education, Culture and Science; Finance; Infrastructure and the Environment; Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation; and Social Affairs and Employment. © The Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp, The Hague 2017 dtp: Textcetera, The Hague Figures: Mantext, Moerkapelle Translation: avb-vertalingen, Amstelveen Coverdesign: Optima Forma, Voorburg nur 740 isbn 978 90 377 0862 2 scp-publication 2018-7 Contact Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau Postbus 16164 2500 bd Den Haag Website: www.scp.nl E-mail: [email protected] Contents Preface 9 1 How is the Dutch population faring? 11 Jeroen Boelhouwer, Rob Bijl & Annemarie Wennekers 1.1 A brief history of The social state of the Netherlands 11 1.2 Quality of life in the spotlight 12 1.3 The ninth edition – time to look back 13 1.4 Taking stock: 1990 to the present 14 1.5 Structure of the report: a conceptual framework 15 1.6 From resources to skills? 18 References 19 2 People and economy: the social playing field 20 Ab van der Torre 2.1 Life situation in the social playing field 20 2.2 Developments in the population 21 2.3 Economy and income 35 2.4 Activities of citizens 45 2.5 Government expenditure 49 2.6 Concluding discussion 53 Notes 54 References 55 3 Public opinion 56 Paul Dekker & Josje den Ridder 3.1 1990 and 2017: a world of difference? 56 3.2 The mood regarding society and the economy 57 3.3 Trust in institutions and opinions on politics 62 3.4 Public agendas 68 3.5 Societal issues 69 3.6 Differences between groups 79 3.7 Concluding discussion 82 Notes 84 References 86 4 Education 89 Ria Vogels & Ralf Maslowski 4.1 Quality and equity 89 4.2 Steadily rising education level 90 5 s o c i a l s t a t e o f t h e netherlands 2 0 1 7 4.3 Concerns about the quality of compulsory education 98 4.4 Concerns about equity in education 102 4.5 Concluding discussion: past, present and future 108 References 109 5 Income and social security 113 Jean Marie Wildeboer Schut & Michiel Ras 5.1 Introduction 113 5.2 Disposable income 115 5.3 Poverty trend analysis 121 5.4 Provisions focusing on income and work 125 5.5 Perception of own income 130 5.6 Concluding discussion 136 Notes 137 References 138 6 Paid work and care tasks 140 Bart van Hulst, Martin Olsthoorn & Anne Roeters 6.1 Trends in paid work and care tasks 140 6.2 Labour market trends 142 6.3 Flexibilisation and working conditions 151 6.4 Job demands and perceptions of work and pension 156 6.5 Time spent working and providing care 164 6.6 Childcare and leave 168 6.7 Concluding discussion 170 Notes 172 References 173 7 Health and care 177 Sjoerd Kooiker 7.1 Does new policy build on the major reforms implemented by the previous government? 177 7.2 Review of healthcare policy in the period 1990-2015 178 7.3 The health of the Dutch 181 7.4 What changes have taken place in people’s health over 25 years? 186 7.5 Use of healthcare provisions 197 7.6 Summary and concluding discussion 204 Notes 206 References 208 6 i n h o u d 8 Social and political participation and engagement 211 Pepijn van Houwelingen & Paul Dekker 8.1 Introduction 211 8.2 The Netherlands in Europe: politics mainly focused on the national level and participation is average 213 8.3 Membership of trade unions and churches, and donorship 217 8.4 Volunteering 221 8.5 Politics 226 8.6 Ability/inability and willingness/unwillingness to participate socially or politically 231 8.7 Concluding discussion 233 Notes 234 References 234 9 Leisure time 236 Anne Roeters, Annemarie Wennekers, Andries van der Broek, Ine Pulles & Annet Tiessen-Raaphorst 9.1 Introduction 236 9.2 Leisure time at a glance 238 9.3 Media use 243 9.4 Social contacts 250 9.5 Sport 253 9.6 Culture 257 9.7 Holidays 260 9.8 Concluding discussion 261 Notes 262 References 263 10 Social safety 266 Lonneke van Noije 10.1 A long-term perspective on safety 266 10.2 Extent of and trend in crime over a quarter of a century 268 10.3 A few areas highlighted for attention by police and justice system 272 10.4 Crime suspects 279 10.5 Victims of crime 281 10.6 Police: performance and appreciation 285 Growth in operational police capacity comes to a halt 286 10.7 The judiciary: trust and sentencing climate 290 10.8 Feelings and perceptions of unsafety 294 10.9 Concluding discussion: a future-proof constitutional state 298 Notes 300 References 300 7 s o c i a l s t a t e o f t h e netherlands 2 0 1 7 11 Housing and the residential environment 304 Jeanet Kullberg & Michiel Ras 11.1 25 years of housing policy 304 11.2 Housing quality 306 11.3 Housing costs 315 11.4 Access to (suitable) housing 319 11.5 Quality of the residential setting and resident action 323 11.6 Concluding discussion 330 Notes 331 References 331 12 Quality of life: life situation and happiness 334 Jeroen Boelhouwer 12.1 Increased attention for quality of life 334 12.2 Quality of life is multidimensional, objective and subjective 335 12.3 The life situation of the Dutch improved between 1990 and 2016 337 12.4 Modern skills, such as control over one’s life, as a supplement to resources 342 12.5 Happiness and satisfaction from 1990 to 2017 346 12.6 A good life situation yet still unhappy? 352 12.7 Quality of life in the Netherlands is also good in a European perspective 356 12.8 But not yet very sustainable 359 12.9 Concluding discussion: the disadvantaged and their happiness 361 Notes 361 References 363 Appendix A 365 8 Preface In The social state of the Netherlands (ssn) report series, which has been published since 2001, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (scp) describes and analyses the quality of life of the Dutch population and of different groups within Dutch society. We do that on the basis of indicators for numerous areas of people’s lives: education, employment, income, health, leisure time use, social participation, social safety, housing and residential setting. This report not only describes the objective situation, but also explores the opinions of Dutch people and how they see their lives, for example how much they trust politicians and how satisfied they are with their lives. This ninth edition of ssn offers an opportunity to look back over a rather longer period than usual, spanning 25 years. This was a period in which the Netherlands experienced great economic prosperity, but also underwent a number of economic crises. In what respects has the Netherlands changed over the last 25 years? How has quality of life developed? These questions run as a common thread through this edition of ssn. We also devote specific attention in this ssn to a finding from the most recent edition of the scp's Social and Cultural Report (De toekomst tegemoet - ‘Facing the future’), which observes a shift away from what people have to people can do with what they have. The demands of today’s society are different from those that applied in 1990. What role do (social and digital) skills play in the lives of the Dutch? How are different sections of the population dealing with the ever faster pace of life and complexity of society? These are questions to which policymakers and politicians would also like answers. There is increasing interest in quality of life, partly driven by a growing realisation that, as well as economic developments, social and cultural aspects – including opinions, attitudes and satisfaction levels – also have consequences for society. In the light of this, and at the request of the Dutch Senate, starting in 2018 scp will report annually on the life situation of the Dutch population, prior to the budget debates. Professor Kim Putters Director, Netherlands Institute for Social Research 9 1 How is the Dutch population faring? Jeroen Boelhouwer, Rob Bijl & Annemarie Wennekers 1.1 A brief history of The social state of the Netherlands In 1985 the Netherlands Institute for Social Research | scp was asked by the Dutch House of Representatives to embark on a series of ‘Social and Cultural Outlook’ studies (Sociale en culturele verkenningen) focusing on the social and cultural aspects of Dutch society.
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