Netherlands library membership grows to 3.8 million

Library membership in the Netherlands has grown to 3.8 million people, a 3 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth is driven largely by adults, whose membership rose by 5 percent to nearly 1.4 million. While youth membership also saw an increase, the province of Overijssel experienced a decline of approximately 1.7 percent in its membership numbers.

Experts suggest that the transition from free youth access to paid adult subscriptions often leads to members dropping out once they turn 18. In Overijssel, the implementation of free subscriptions for young adults aged 18 to 27 has been slower than in other regions, which may account for the local decline.

Nationally, the number of library branches has reached 802, the highest level since 2014, supported by government funding. Despite the increase in locations, the average cycling distance to the nearest library remains at 2.0 kilometers. Digital consumption is also rising, with audiobook loans increasing by 11 percent, totaling nearly 3 million digital loans.