Liveability per municipality: the highest Leefbaarometer scores

Short answer: the Leefbaarometer (Ministry of the Interior) expresses liveability on a national scale — higher is more liveable. Below are the Dutch municipalities (from 50,000 residents) with the highest average Leefbaarometer score in 2024. It's an average over all neighbourhoods of the municipality; within a municipality it can vary widely.

1. 1Gooise Meren4.2861,030 res.
2. 2Utrechtse Heuvelrug4.2750,945 res.
3. 3Hilversum4.2692,000 res.
4. 4Apeldoorn4.25165,000 res.
5. 5Rijswijk4.2560,725 res.
6. 6Katwijk4.2367,070 res.
7. 7Zeist4.2366,685 res.
8. 8De Fryske Marren4.2352,240 res.
9. 9Amstelveen4.2292,000 res.
10. 10Smallingerland4.2257,080 res.
11. 11Heerenveen4.2251,850 res.
12. 12Groningen4.21240,000 res.
13. 13Hengelo4.2183,665 res.
14. 14Leidschendam-Voorburg4.2178,310 res.
15. 15Weert4.2151,355 res.
16. 16Amsterdam4.20920,000 res.
17. 17Amersfoort4.20160,000 res.
18. 18Súdwest-Fryslân4.2090,600 res.
19. 19Assen4.2070,395 res.
20. 20Westerkwartier4.2064,855 res.
21. 21Hardenberg4.2063,430 res.
22. 22Maashorst4.2059,690 res.
23. 23Pijnacker-Nootdorp4.2058,135 res.
24. 24Kampen4.2056,545 res.
25. 25Woerden4.2053,975 res.

What does the Leefbaarometer measure?

The score is calibrated on five dimensions: housing, amenities, physical environment, social cohesion and nuisance/insecurity. It's not an opinion but a statistical model. A high municipal score doesn't mean every neighbourhood is pleasant — always look at the neighbourhood itself.