Students in higher education more concerned about pollution

Do you consider environmental pollution to be a bigger problem than crime? If so, there is a good chance that you are studying or have studied at a university of applied sciences or university. This is evident from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) research into the views of young people up to the age of 25.

In 2018, only 30 percent of young adults considered crime to be a major problem. Six years later, that figure has risen to 49 percent, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands.

Concerns about environmental pollution were already greater in 2018: that autumn, Greta Thunberg started her school strike, which was emulated around the world. Those concerns have also increased: from 45 to 49 per cent.

Higher education

There is a striking difference between (former) students in higher education and young people who followed vocational education or only completed secondary education. Higher education students are relatively more concerned about the environment, while the other group considers crime to be the main problem.

In the survey of their views, Statistics Netherlands also asked whether young people see problems in the ‘number of people’ in the Netherlands. They are slightly less concerned about this than about environmental pollution and crime.

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Not all CBS figures on young people are broken down by educational level. In the National Youth Monitor 2025, which was also published, statisticians look at the well-being of young people, regardless of the education they are following.

Most young people are doing well, but there is room for improvement. Of those aged 18 to 25, 81 per cent are happy, compared to 90 per cent eleven years ago. Even before the Covid crisis, this had fallen to around 86 per cent, but the pandemic caused a downturn from which some young people apparently still have not fully recovered.

HOP, Bas Belleman