Dutch voters have more trust in the European Union than their own parliament, but confidence in both institutions is waning, according to a survey by the statistics agency CBS.

The annual poll, taken last year, showed 47.1% of people over 15 trusted the EU, while 29% had faith in the Lower House. The figures for 2022 were 48.7% and 30.4% respectively.

It is the first time since the survey began in 2012 that fewer than three in 10 people expressed confidence in parliament. Trust in politicians was lower still at 23.8%, the same level as in 2022.

The CBS polled people’s trust in a range of institutions. Judges came out on top, endorsed by 77.5% of people, followed by the police, healthcare and the army.

Politicians and parliament had the lowest trust ratings, with churches (29.6%), large companies (35.8%) and the press (36.6%) just above them.

The EU has scored higher than the Dutch parliament every year except 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum, and the pandemic year of 2020, the only time more than half of those polled (53.2%) had confidence in parliament.

Trust in the EU peaked the following year, when it was backed by 53.4% of people.

Support for parliament was strongest among people living in Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, while confidence in the EU was also high in Groningen, Arnhem and Nijmegen.