These municipalities are most likely to have a traffic accident

Parent-Amstel takes the crown

At the top of the list is Ouder-Amstel, with an average of 57 accidents per thousand cars from 2020 to 2024. That is more than twice as many as in Oostzaan, number two on the list. Large cities like Amsterdam are also relatively likely to have a traffic accident, with 22 accidents per thousand vehicles. Urban congestion, many intersections and a maze of traffic flows simply make chunks more likely to happen here.

In small municipalities bisected by highways, such as Ouder-Amstel and Midden-Delfland, another factor comes into play: although many cars pass through them, relatively few vehicles are registered. As a result, every incident ticks extra hard in the statistics.

Houten as a shining example

At the other end of the rankings is Houten. There, researchers recorded only two accidents per thousand cars. The cycling city is known for its segregated bike paths and clear infrastructure. Almere and Scherpenzeel also do remarkably well, with relatively few accidents thanks to wide roads and smart infrastructure. Uithoorn, Stede Broec and Edam-Volendam also belong to the safe corner.

Injuries do not always equal many accidents

Remarkably, many accidents do not automatically mean frequent injuries. In places like Laren and Venlo, more than 95 percent of accidents are limited to eye damage. Even in Ouder-Amstel and Eemnes, where the accident rates are high, the damage is usually not too bad.

It is very different in coastal municipalities such as Katwijk, Voorschoten and Noordwijk. There, almost half of the accidents end with injuries or worse. On Schiermonnikoog, the picture is similar. The most traffic deaths over the past five years occurred in Opmeer and Reusel-De Mierden. On the other hand, fourteen municipalities – including Pijnacker-Nootdorp and Bodegraven-Reeuwijk – did not have to record any traffic deaths at all during that period.

Also read: These five cars are most frequently damaged