100 people died in accidental drownings last year: CBS

Some 100 residents of the Netherlands died in accidental drownings in 2025, down 13 on the previous year and just above the five-year average of 93, according to provisional figures from the national statistics office CBS. People aged 60 and over accounted for 41% of the deaths.

More than half of all drownings over the past five years were in a ditch, river, canal, or city canal. Around 16% were in or around the home and a similar share in ponds and lakes. Just 4% were in the sea and 2% in swimming pools.

A further 100 people died by suicide by drowning in 2025, and 42 drowned in traffic-related incidents – usually after a bicycle or car ended up in the water.

Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland recorded the highest absolute numbers over the past five years. Adjusted for surface water area, Utrecht had the highest rate of any province.

The figures cover Dutch residents only. The CBS publishes additional figures later in the year on tourists and non-resident workers who drown in the Netherlands.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. In the Netherlands, call 113 or 0800-0113 (free) for 24/7 support, or visit 113.nl, where the chat service is available in English.