Financial Independence: Progress in Dutch Women’s Empowerment

Three-quarters of adult women in the Netherlands prioritize financial self-sufficiency, with 66 percent achieving it last year. Among women under 65 not in education, this figure marks a significant improvement from 57 percent in 2011, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in its Emancipation Monitor.

The ability of women to attain financial independence is heavily influenced by parenthood. Before having children, there’s little divergence in economic autonomy between men and women under 45. However, the arrival of children often alters women’s career trajectories, with 45 percent reducing or ceasing work compared to less than 7 percent of men, according to CBS.

Men (72 percent) are more inclined than women (55 percent) to cite the necessity of their income. Fathers, in particular, prioritize the indispensability of their earnings, with 77 percent expressing this sentiment and 90 percent achieving financial autonomy.

Single mothers with children under 12 face the greatest challenges in attaining financial independence, with only 54.9 percent meeting the minimum income threshold. However, this burden eases slightly as their children grow older, with 65.4 percent of single mothers with older children achieving self-sufficiency.

Among the 1.6 million economically dependent women in 2021, 32 percent held paid employment, earning below the social assistance level primarily due to insufficient hours or low wages. Nearly half (47 percent) relied on social assistance, while 21 percent had no income.

Of the 912,000 financially dependent men, 27 percent worked but earned inadequate income, while the majority (64 percent) relied on benefits.