Social Classes in the Netherlands (Holland)

The Netherlands is known for its relatively egalitarian society, high social mobility, and narrow income gap. Traditionally, four main social strata are recognized:

• Upper class (elite): Wealthiest individuals—captains of industry, top politicians, royal family (~1% of population).
• Middle class: Professionals, managers, highly educated—largest group (~45%).
• Working class: Skilled and unskilled manual laborers, service workers (~35%).
• Lower class: Unemployed, homeless, welfare-dependent (~20%).

Class boundaries are fluid, with significant overlap. Recent decades have seen new social groups (immigrants, ethnic minorities) challenge traditional structures. Data from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) supports these estimates.