Younger Dutch have nearly twice as much trust in politics as older adults

Younger people in the Netherlands have become more engaged with the politics in recent years. According to research by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and results from the 2025 Social Cohesion and Well-being survey, younger people express more confidence in politics than older age groups and are more likely to join protests or demonstrations.

In 2025, 62 percent of 15-to-17-year-olds and 55 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds said they had confidence in politics. Among 65- to 74-year-olds, the share was about 31 percent.

Furthermore, the statistics service reports that from 2023 to 2025, 18- to 24-year-olds were the only age group where a rising trust in politics was observed.

People aged 18 to 34 are also more likely to take part in protests and demonstrations than those aged 35 or older. That especially applies to 18-34 who have received higher education or are currently studying.

Older people report lower trust in politics but higher interest. In 2025, 37 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds said they were moderately or very interested in politics. In contrast, that statement was true for 64 percent of those in the 65-74 age group.

Interest in politics reportedly jumped during the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic, especially among the 18-20-year-olds. It then dropped and then rose again in 2024 and 2025.

Overall, youth participation in politics started rising after 2018, then eased in 2023 and 2024. Among participation of 35-year-olds and those who are older than that, political participation fluctuated before 2025. But in 2025, participation rose in every age group.