Image: ©Nationale Beeldbank

Population decline

The government wants to maintain the liveability of areas where the population is shrinking or where decline is forecast. Populations are declining in several parts of the Netherlands, especially northern and eastern Groningen and southern Limburg. This could mean more unoccupied homes and more schools having to close down. The provincial and municipal authorities hold primary responsibility for tackling the consequences of population decline and demographic ageing. In this, they receive support from central government.