Interest in news, its use, and trust in it are all declining in the Netherlands, according to the Digital News Report Netherlands 2026, which the Dutch Media Authority will publish on Tuesday.
The report shows that this trend affects all age groups, but is most pronounced among people aged 18 to 34. In 2018, 61 per cent of Dutch people said they had a high or very high interest in news. By 2026, this figure had fallen to 45 per cent. Over the same period, the share of people with little or no interest in news has risen from 4 per cent to 14 per cent. The Digital News Report was first released in 2018.
Amma Asante, Chair of the Dutch Media Authority, describes the trend as worrying. “The report calls not only for reflection, but also for action. We must strengthen trust, interest, and use. This is a shared challenge for the news sector, the government, and our organisation,” she said.
The use of AI chatbots as a source of news has increased slightly compared with last year. As in previous years, NOS remains the most trusted news provider, followed by ANP, RTL Nieuws, and regional daily newspapers.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
