The Netherlands population hits 17.1 million in 2017

Photo: Graham Dockery

The population of the Netherlands had grown to 17.1 million people by January 1 this year, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday.

The increase of 110,000 people was mainly due to migration, the CBS said. Some 230,000 people moved to the Netherlands last year while 141,000 people left.

The number of live births also outstripped deaths by 230,000 to 141,000

The largest group of new arrivals came from Syria – 29,000. Some 25,000 EU nationals moved to the Netherlands, including 9,000 people from Poland.

The growth in the size of the population with Moroccan and Turkish origins was almost entirely due to the second generation. The number of first generation Turks actually fell slightly due to deaths and emigration, the CBS said.

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