There is good news for the police in the Netherlands, as Dutch people aged 15 years and older felt safer in 2011 than they did in 2010. The rate of crime also remained stable, and civilians felt more optimistic about the work of the police, according to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands.

The rates of those feeling occasionally unsafe have reduced significantly since 2005. In 2005 a third of respondents reported that they felt occasionally unsafe, which reduced to 26 percent in 2010, and 25 percent in 2011.

Crime has also dropped considerably since 2005, which had reduced from a third of residents reporting they had been exposed to violent crimes, crimes against property or vandalism, to 25 percent of residents in 2011.

Unsurprisingly, cities reported higher rates of crime and perceptions of criminal activity. 30 percent of residents in Amsterdam-Amstelland, Haaglanden and Rotterdam-Rijnmond reported of occasionally feeling unsafe.

Finally, the standard of police interaction has improved, with 60 percent of Dutch feeling very positive about their experience, compared to 57 percent in 2010.

How do Expats feel about crime levels in the Netherlands?