In the Netherlands, a significant disparity exists between men and women regarding perceived safety in their neighborhoods. According to the national statistics office CBS, nearly half of women aged 15 to 25 (45%) reported in 2023 that they sometimes take longer routes while walking or driving to avoid areas they consider unsafe.

This contrasts sharply with the 21.5% of men in the same age group who reported doing the same. The data indicates that women are consistently more likely than men to avoid areas they perceive as unsafe, regardless of age.

Older women also exhibit this behavior, avoiding unsafe areas more frequently than their male counterparts. This heightened sense of vulnerability among women extends to other safety-related behaviors, such as answering the door at night.

Seven in ten women aged 65 and older stated that they sometimes refrain from opening the door in the evening. This is compared to 53% of men in the same age bracket.

Across all age groups, women are generally less inclined to open the door than men. This holds true whether they live alone or with others, highlighting a persistent concern for personal safety among women in the Netherlands.