Utrecht Monitor (English)

Summary

This is the 28^th edition of the Utrecht Monitor, which offers a cross-section of figures and data on Utrecht. Despite slightly slower growth in 2024, Utrecht remains one of the most attractive larger cities to live in (3^rd in Atlas voor gemeenten). Utrecht scores relatively high on the concept of wellbeing (brede welvaart) compared to other major cities. This is based on the state of the economy, but also nature, the environment and society. Utrecht ranks first among the fifty largest municipalities on the matter of work and education. The regional economy is among the fastest growing in the Netherlands, and retail vacancy rates are declining in the city centre. Renewable energy use is on the rise, and the air quality is improving.

Naturally, there are also certain developments that require attention. The number of people with an income below the Utrecht poverty line and particularly on welfare benefits is increasing. The mental health of adolescents, although stabilised since covid, continues to demand attention. For years, Utrecht has faced a severe labour market shortage that affects various sectors, including IT, and technical occupations. Fewer homes have been built in the city than intended, and there have been sharp increases in both house prices (the highest in the Netherlands) and rent (higher than the national average). Lastly, we are also seeing increasing signs of growing social unrest and polarisation in Utrecht.

Utrecht Monitor 2025

Key points from the 28^th Utrecht Monitor:

• Slower population growth in 2024
• More sustainable energy use, improved air quality, increased waste separation
• Modest economic growth, strained investment climate
• Fewer work-related hotel stays, more Dutch hotel guests
• Varying picture of crime development, increased disturbance reports
• Slight increase in poverty and number of benefit recipients
• Divisions in the city: persistent disparities

Slower population growth in 2024

Utrecht grew by 2,361 residents last year, reaching a population of 376,735 at the beginning of 2025; population growth was slower than in previous years. In 2022, numerous refugees from Ukraine came to Utrecht, and many students arrived in 2023 due to the reintroduction of the basic grant for students. Fewer people settled in the city in 2024. This is partly due to the lower delivery of new homes, which was around 2,000 per year in 2023 and 2024 compared to the annual average of over 3,000 new homes in previous years.

Utrecht has grown strongly over time and is expected to continue to do so. According to the latest population forecast, Utrecht will pass the 400,000 population mark in 2029 and will have over 470,000 residents in 2040—an increase of nearly 100,000 residents in the next 15 years. All neighbourhoods in the city are set to grow, with Zuidwest showing the most growth because of the development of the Merwedekanaalzone. In recent years, the city's housing stock has grown primarily due to the creation of apartments, largely in the rental sector. In 2024, Utrecht's housing stock comprised 54% rental housing, with the share of private landlords (24% of the total) remaining stable in 2024. House prices have risen sharply (+15%) in Utrecht in the past year—the strongest increase in the Netherlands.

More sustainable energy use, improved air quality, increased waste separation

Utrecht’s energy use (-7%) and CO₂ emissions declined in 2023 (-8%), and 12% of electricity used in that year was from renewable sources. Solar power generation is growing every year; by 2024, more than a third (38%) of Utrecht's rooftops will be fitted with solar panels. The number of public EV charging stations (+14%) and the number of electric or hybrid electric passenger cars in Utrecht (+25%) are also increasing, as is the proportion of Utrecht households with an electric car.

However, the electricity grid is full, which hinders the establishment of new businesses, new housing construction and sustainability initiatives, including the large-scale installation of solar panels.

Utrecht's air quality improved in 2023 but still falls short of the WHO guidelines. The total amount of household waste per capita remained the same, while the waste separation rate, including post-separation, increased to 46%.

Modest economic growth, strained investment climate

The preliminary growth rate for the economy in the Netherlands was 0.9% in 2024; the growth rate in the Utrecht region has been around the national average in recent years. Regional business confidence has risen but is still negative. The number of bankruptcies is on the rise, but less than nationally and less than a year ago. The investment climate in the Utrecht region is under pressure from labour market shortages (staff shortages), a congested electricity grid and a lack of space for businesses. The lack of space for businesses manifests itself in a shortage of commercial real estate, and despite a slight increase in the past year, the vacancy rate in the office market has been very low (4.2%) for some time. This is below the 5% to 7% often considered the frictional vacancy rate required for the market to function properly.

Compared to other large cities, Utrecht has a low unemployment rate: only 4.3% of the labour force is not gainfully employed. The number of job seekers increased slightly over the past year. At the same time, employment in terms of the number of jobs has continued to grow strongly in recent years (+14,000 between 2023 and 2024). There has also been a severe labour market shortage for years, which manifests primarily in large personnel shortages in IT and technical occupations.

Fewer work-related hotel stays, more Dutch hotel guests

Dutch hotel guests seem to be increasingly opting for Utrecht: 57% of hotel guests in Utrecht are from the Netherlands, up from 47% before the pandemic. The number of hotel guests and cultural visitors increased. In contrast, the proportion of work-related overnight stays is lower than in previous years and lower than before the pandemic. In the past year, the retail vacancy rate declined slightly in the city centre and Utrecht as a whole, while the nationwide vacancy rate rose slightly.

Varying picture of crime development, increased disturbance reports

In 2024, total crime decreased slightly by 1%. It is important to note that within this context, individual offenses show a varying picture. In particular, some traditional forms of crime are decreasing, such as residential burglaries, pickpocketing and shoplifting. Car break-ins and violence are on the rise. In the area of cybercrime, payment fraud and online commerce fraud are on the rise. In the area of public order, we are seeing a sharp increase in the number of demonstrations.

In 2024, police reports of disturbance increased by 3%. In particular, there has been an increase in reports of disturbance involving people with unrecognised mental health needs (+14%). Disturbance by homeless people has risen particularly sharply in Zuid and Zuidwest (both +47%). In the past 15 years, the perception of safety has remained fairly stable: the proportion of residents who sometimes feel unsafe in their neighbourhood fluctuates around 30%. In Utrecht, the proportion of residents who feel unsafe is lower than in other major Dutch cities.

Slight increase in poverty and number of benefit recipients

In 2023, there was a slight increase in poverty based on the Utrecht poverty line (125% of the social minimum). In 2022, the rate was 13.8% of Utrecht households; 2023 saw an increase of 600 households, bringing the number to 13.9% (22,400 households in total). This trend follows a downward trend in previous years. The number of children growing up in poverty also increased (+6%). In 2023, this concerned 7,400 children aged 0 to 17.

The Central Planning Bureau (CPB) expects the proportion of Dutch residents below the national poverty line to decline in 2025 and the following years. This is mainly due to higher wages, tax relief and increases in the child budget and rent allowance. The CPB also notes that poverty is deepening. In Utrecht, this manifests in an increasing proportion of the group of poor households whose income is at or below the welfare level for a longer period.

Along with the slight increase in poverty, the number of households living on welfare, unemployment or disability benefits is also increasing. The total number of benefit recipients was 28,640 in 2024, almost 1,000 more than in 2023. The number of benefit recipients has grown for all types of benefits, with the greatest growth among recipients of unemployment benefits (+10.7%).

Divisions in the city: persistent disparities

Many Utrecht residents are doing well, and the majority live in good health. Scores for social cohesion and personal well-being have been stable for years. The Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) notes a similar situation for the Netherlands that is roughly applicable to Utrecht, often in the following context: “I am doing well, but society and the world are not doing great.” This is reflected in aspects such as trust in politics, which is higher locally than nationally.

Like the SCP, we can observe clear, persistent differences in all areas of society, such as between neighbourhoods and districts and between educational attainment, age and migration background. The concerning state of youth mental health is a persistent problem; reports of discrimination are on the rise, as mentioned, the number of demonstrations is increasing, and polarisation is a stressor among members of the Bewonerspanel (Residents' Panel, 7.000 Utrecht residents). In addition to trust, income status also varies widely by different neighbourhoods and groups. The odds are also uneven for obtaining housing.

We take a closer look at these differences in the city in a new publication on divisions in Utrecht, which will be published in May.