For the first time, more Poles are leaving the Netherlands
CBS figures show a shift in migration between the Netherlands and Poland in the first half of 2026.
In the first half of 2026, more Poles left the Netherlands than came to the Netherlands from Poland for the first time. The development forms part of a broader decline in population growth and migration to the Netherlands.
The Dutch population grew by more than 23,000 residents in the first six months of 2026. That is considerably less than in the same period of 2025, when nearly 37,000 residents were added, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports on the basis of provisional figures.
The growth was entirely due to international migration. Between January and June, approximately 126,000 immigrants settled in the Netherlands and almost 95,000 people left. The net migration figure therefore came to more than 31,000 residents, nearly 14,000 fewer than a year earlier.
Poland stands out within this development. According to CBS, more Poles left the Netherlands in the first half of 2026 than came to the Netherlands from Poland for the first time. The statistics office identifies labour and family migration as important categories in migration from Poland, but the news report does not give separate figures for the two directions.
The shift does not automatically mean that all Polish workers or families are leaving the Netherlands. The figures concern registered immigration and emigration and are provisional. Nor do they say why people are leaving. A changing labour market, family circumstances and developments in the country of origin may all play a role, but CBS draws no conclusions about this in the report.
Total population growth is also affected by births and deaths. In the first half of 2026, approximately 82,000 children were born, while around 90,000 people died. Without international migration, the population would therefore have declined further. At the end of June, the Netherlands had approximately 18.15 million residents.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Population growth in the first half of 2026 was lower than a year earlier.
- Net migration was positive, but lower than in the same period of 2025.
- For Poland, net migration shifted to a net outflow for the first time.
Left
Arguments A net outflow among Polish workers could point to the vulnerability of migrant workers and to a shortage of affordable housing and decent employment conditions. The Netherlands should become less dependent on cheap labour and invest more in permanent contracts, housing and public services.
Values Equality, worker protection and public responsibility.
Consequences More regulation and better services could strengthen the position of migrant workers, but could also increase costs for employers and public authorities.
Centre
Arguments The figures call for sober analysis before policy is changed. The Netherlands must keep reliable registration, labour-market information and services in order, while recognising that migration flows can change.
Values Factuality, feasibility and institutional stability.
Consequences A targeted approach can address labour-market shortages without drawing conclusions from six months of provisional figures.
Right
Arguments A net outflow could be seen as an indication that the Netherlands is becoming less attractive or that earlier migration was too heavily dependent on temporary demand for labour. Policy should place greater emphasis on control over migration and on residents’ interests.
Values National control, manageability and protection of public capacity.
Consequences Stricter migration policy could limit inflows, but could also increase staff shortages in some sectors.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures and the shift in Polish migration come directly from the CBS report. The text clearly distinguishes between registered figures and possible explanations.
- confirmed The Dutch population grew by more than 23,000 residents in the first half of 2026. — CBS reports growth of 23.2 thousand residents. source
- confirmed In the first half of 2026, more Poles left the Netherlands than came to the country. — CBS writes that, for the first time, more Poles left than came to the Netherlands. source
- confirmed Population growth was entirely due to international migration. — According to CBS, natural population growth was negative and growth was entirely due to migration. source
Editor's note
CBS confirms the shift in migration from Poland and the broader population figures. The figures are provisional; little is known from the source consulted about reasons for leaving and separate numbers for each direction of migration.Sources
- Bevolking minder hard gegroeid in eerste halfjaar 2026 — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „migratie polen”
- de Volkskrant — „migratie polen”
- RTL Nieuws — „migratie polen”