Best and worst 50 largest Dutch cities to live in 2016

Amsterdam continues to top a ranking of the best 50 Dutch cities to live in but Utrecht is closing the gap, researchers who produce the Atlas voor Gemeenten said on Wednesday.

The last issue was published 10 years ago but the top three – Amsterdam, Utrecht and Amstelveen – remain the same.

The ranking is based on 50 separate issues, ranging from education to parks, public safety and cultural amenities.

‘Amsterdam owes its leading position to its historic inner city, its location, jobs market and its facilities,’ researcher Gerard Marlet told broadcaster Nos. ‘It has everything a city should have.’

However, public safety issues and growing inequality could have an impact on Amsterdam’s lead, Marlet said. In addition, tourism is beginning to affect people’s perception of the city and this could also cost Amsterdam in the future.

Dordrecht, up from 30 to 14, is the biggest riser in the ranking, while Hilversum, Delft and Oss are among the biggest losers.

Bottom of the list is Emmen in Drenthe, which is just below Sittard-Geleen and Spijkenisse. See the rankings of the 50 best Dutch cities to live 2016:

1. Amsterdam
2. Utrecht
3. Amstelveen
4. Haarlem
5. s-Hertogenbosch
6. Den Haag
7. Haarlemmermeer
8. Nijmegen
9. Leiden
10. Leidschendam-Voorburg
11. Amersfoort
12. Eindhoven
13. Arnhem
14. Dordrecht
15. Alphen aan den Rijn
16. Zwolle
17. Rotterdam
18. Gouda
19. Tilburg
20. Velsen
21. Ede
22. Groningen
23. Delft
24. Hilversum
25. Purmerend
26. Zaanstad
27. Zoetermeer
28. Breda
29. Oss
30. Schiedam
31. Apeldoorn
32. Hoorn
33. Deventer
34. Vlaardingen
35. Leeuwarden
36. Alkmaar
37. Hengelo (O.)
38. Roosendaal
39. Maastricht
40. Lelystad
41. Almere
42. Helmond
43. Enschede
44. Almelo
45. Bergen op Zoom
46. Venlo
47. Heerlen
48. Nissewaard
49. Sittard-Geleen
50. Emmen

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