Based on the Safety Monitor 2023 compiled by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the Ministry of Justice and Security, bicycle thefts in the Netherlands have increased by 30 percent, with almost 1 million bikes stolen in 2023.
Every two years, CBS and the Dutch government publish the Safety Monitor which is a survey about safety and victimisation of crime in the Netherlands. The 2023 edition has some shocking data on bicycles. Bicycle theft caused by far the most financial damage out of all types of crime.
As people in the Netherlands start cycling even more and e-bikes become increasingly popular, so it follows that more bicycles are stolen. In 2023, 928.000 bicycles were stolen - 30 percent more than in 2021.
Around half of all bicycles stolen were worth less than 350 euros, but more expensive bikes are also being taken. When more valuable bicycles are stolen the damage reported to police is often more than 800 euros a piece - 110 euros more than two years ago.
While more cyclists are forking out extra money to replace their stolen bikes, insurance companies have also seen a spike in payouts. In 2023, Dutch insurers paid out 271 million euros for bicycle thefts. This is almost double what they paid out in 2021.
Dutch insurance company ANWB also sees a pattern with more expensive e-bikes being taken. The average value of such a bike is around 2.200 euros. “Bicycles were stolen more often in 2023 and they were also more valuable on average, both due to a higher purchase price and the growth in the number of e-bikes,” said ANWB Insurance spokesperson Klaas Kregel. “For 2024, we see a stabilisation in the number of thefts.”
However, some very costly bikes which won’t be covered by many insurance companies are fat bikes. Last year, ANWB announced that they would no longer be insuring fat bikes due to high theft rates in Dutch cities.
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