Early 2013, approximately 98 thousand households had a personal capital of 1 million euros or more, i.e. one thousand more than one year previously. In the Netherlands, 1.3 percent of all households have a personal capital of 1 million euros or more (excluding the value of the home they live in). Today, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) released a report on millionaires in the Netherlands.

Nearly 62 percent of millionaires have a personal capital ranging between 1 and 2 million euros. About 28 percent own between 2 and 5 million euros and 3 percent have a personal capital exceeding 10 million euros. On average, the main breadwinner in a millionaire household has financial assets worthh 2.9 million euros, excluding the value of the home they live in and the mortgage debt, but including other immovable property, like second homes or land.

Millionaire households by personal capital, 2013*

In eight out of ten cases, the main breadwinner in a household is a man. This applies to millionaire and non-millionaire households alike. Women are less often breadwinners, partly because many women have part-time jobs, as Statistics Netherlands reported earlier.

The main breadwinner in a millionaire household is nearly 60 years of age, i.e. 8 years older than the average ‘non-millionaire’. Three-quarters of millionaires are over 50, 1 in every 20 are under 40.

Millionaires and non-millionaires by age main breadwinner, 2013*

In half of cases, the main breadwinner in a millionaire household is high-educated, versus one quarter in non-millionaire households. Nine in ten millionaires have a native Dutch background. Millionaires with a non-western background are relatively rare. Approximately one and a half percent of millionaires have a non-western background, versus nearly 10 percent of main breadwinners in non-millionaire households.

Bloemendaal, Laren and Blaricum have highest proportion of millionaires

Have of millionaires are living in areas with a relatively low level of urbanisation. The average millionaire home had a value of 513 thousand euros in 2013, i.e. more than twice the average value of a non-millionaire home. The municipalities of Bloemendaal, Laren and Blaricum had the highest rates of millionaires and the municipality of Kerkrade accounts for the lowest rate. The provinces of Utrecht and Zeeland have the highest proportions of millionaires, the provinces of Limburg, Flevoland and Groningen account for the lowest rates.

More than half of personal capital millionaires invested in shares and bonds

Being a millionaire does not mean that somebody has at least one million in their bank accounts. In general, millionaires have deposited only a small part of their personal capital in bank accounts. Only 14 percent of the total amount owned by millionaires in the Netherlands was deposited in bank or savings accounts. The average amount of millionaire households in bank or savings accounts was 452 thousand euros, versus 35 thousand euros for non-millionaires.

In 2013, the average millionaire household had invested 57 percent of their financial assets in shares and bonds. The wealthier people are, the higher the percentage.

Millionaire households have invested 17 percent of their personal capital in immovable property (excluding the house they live in), like holiday homes and land; 7 percent has been invested in businesses and movable property, e.g. cattle, jewellery and classic cars.

Main source of income

Interest from savings accounts, dividends and income from immovable property were the main sources of income for 20 percent of millionaire households, as against forr 0.2 percent of non-millionaire households. For more than half (51 percent) of people in the latter category , paid work was the main source of income. The corresponding percentage for millionaires was more than 29 percent. Nearly 30 percent of millionaires, generated most of their income from their own business activities, versus 11 percent of non-millionaire households.

Main income source millionaires and non-millionaires, 2013*

Figures regarding the distribution of wealth and income can be interpreted in more than one way. These figures tend to be the subject of public debate.