According to Statistics Netherlands, city joblessness has increased in the Netherlands; with Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam all experiencing higher unemployment rates in 2011.

The Hague experienced the largest rise, from 6,8 percent in 2010 to 8,3 percent in 2011.

However, Rotterdam remains top of the unemployment ratings, with 9,5 percent of residents out of work. Amsterdam also experienced an increase, with unemployment ratings topping 7 percent in 2011.

Only in Utrecht did unemployment remained stable. The city has a unemployment rate of just over 5 percent, maintaining the lowest rate of the four largest Dutch cities for the third consecutive year.

In the Dutch provinces, the labour market is healthier. Provincial unemployment rates hardly changed in the Netherlands in 2011 relative to 2010.

Zeeland performed best, with an incredibly low unemployment rate of 3,7 percent. At the other end of the scale though, Groningen had the highest percentage of unemployed last year at 7,3 percent, and also the biggest rise in unemployment from 2010.

The biggest falls in provincial unemployment came from Limburg, where the rate dropped markedly from 6,1 percent in 2010 to 5,1 percent in 2011.

There was also good news for the young. Youth unemployment declined from 11,7 percent to 9,8 percent in 2011, though remaining at a comparatively high level.

Note that the overall unemployment rate in the Netherlands was 5,4 percent in 2011, the same as in 2010.

Unemployment by province

Unemployment in the four major Dutch cities