There were 2,551 centenarians in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2026, a figure which has remained relatively stable for the past five years, national statistics agency CBS said on Friday.

Most of them – 2,100 – are women, who traditionally have a longer life expectancy than men.

The CBS researchers have gone back to 1812 to assess what proportion of the population was aged at least 100. They found that 13 of every 100,000 people born in 1850 would reach 100 plus, but that this had gone up to 300 by the end of the 19th century and 700 by 1920.

They also found major regional differences. For example, people living in The Hague are twice as likely to reach the age of 100 as someone in Limburg. The researchers say that living conditions in childhood and genetic factors may play a role.

According to broadcaster NOS, the oldest Dutch person at the moment is Bets Smaal, who was born in January 1915 in Capelle aan den IJssel and is 111.