Where do the millionaires live? In these ten municipalities, seven figures are the norm

Statistics Netherlands has updated its wealth balance sheet, and it shows: the number of millionaires in the Netherlands continues to grow. On 1 January 2024, the Netherlands had 452,000 households with assets of at least one million euros. An increase of over 17,000 in one year. From Bloemendaal to Blaricum: wealthy Dutch people are surprisingly dispersed across the country; although […]

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has updated its wealth balance sheet, and it shows: the number of millionaires in the Netherlands continues to grow. On January 1, 2024, the Netherlands had 452.000 households with a net worth of at least one million euros. An increase of over 17.000 in one year. From Bloemendaal to Blaricum, wealthy Dutch people live surprisingly dispersed; although there are municipalities where a set of seven figures would hardly stand out.

Currently, 5,5 percent of Dutch households have assets of at least one million euros. This includes the value of their home, minus their mortgage debt. This increase is part of a broader trend: in 2011, there were 170.000 millionaire households; now, there are more than 2,5 times as many.

Two-thirds of them own "only" between 1 and 2 million euros. A quarter own between 2 and 5 million, and only 3 percent reach 10 million or more.

Top 10 municipalities

1. Bloemendaal (NH.) – 34,6%

2. Laren (NH.) – 33,9%

3. Rozendaal (Gld.) – 29,8%

4. Blaricum (NH.) – 24,7%

5. Heemstede (NH.) – 23,8%

6. Wassenaar (ZH.) – 23,4%

7. Gooise Meren (NH.) – 16,6%

8. De Bilt (Utr.) – 16,4%

9. Oegstgeest (ZH.) – 15,7%

10. Wijdemeren (NH.) – 13,7%

Another striking finding is that wealthy Dutch people are relatively often self-employed. Of those still working, 55 percent are self-employed, although that share is declining (in 2014, it was 71 percent). Almost 40 percent now live on their pensions. By comparison, among households with less wealth, only 8,7 percent are self-employed, and wage income constitutes the majority.

Looking at the composition of assets, the largest portion, around 40 percent, comes from substantial interests and business assets. Owner-occupied homes account for "only" a quarter of total assets. For less affluent households, the situation is reversed: over 77 percent are tied up in their homes.

And the other side of the map?

There are also municipalities where the number of millionaires is very modest. At the very bottom:

– Kerkrade (L.) – 1,0%
– Brunssum (L.) – 1,4%
– Heerlen (L.) – 1,4%
– Den Helder (NH.) – 1,5%
– Nissewaard (ZH.) – 1,5%