migration-background.nl

Municipality · Limburg

Municipality of VaalsMigration background and origin

On 1 January 2026, the municipality of Vaals had 10,105 residents. 55.5% of them (5,610 people) have a migration background: they were born abroad or have at least one parent who was. That is higher than Limburg (26.6%) and higher than the national average (29.1%). The largest origin groups are Germany (33.1%), other Europe (8.1%) and other Asia (4.9%). 78.7% of residents with a migration background were born abroad themselves. Since 2022 the share has risen by 1.8 percentage points.

Residents
10,105 on 1 January 2026
Migration background
55.5% 5,610 people
Born abroad
78.7% of those with a migration background
Change since 2022
+1.8 pp in share with a migration background
Migration background, share of residents

Share of residents with a migration background per postcode.

Where residents come from

Origin of residents on 1 January 2026, as a share of all residents.

Dutch origin and migration background

  • Dutch origin 44.4% 4,490
  • Migration background 55.5% 5,610

Largest origin groups

Bars show each group’s share of all residents of Municipality of Vaals. For comparison, the line marks Limburg and the circle the Netherlands.

  • Germany
    33.1% 3,345 people
    Limburg 5.4% Netherlands 1.9%
  • Other Europe Europe excluding the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Poland
    8.1% 815 people
    Limburg 5.5% Netherlands 5.6%
  • Other Asia Asia excluding Indonesia and Turkey
    4.9% 500 people
    Limburg 4.1% Netherlands 5.3%
  • Belgium
    2.5% 255 people
    Limburg 1.7% Netherlands 0.76%
  • Poland
    1.7% 175 people
    Limburg 1.9% Netherlands 1.4%
  • Other Africa Africa excluding Morocco
    1.3% 135 people
    Limburg 1.5% Netherlands 2.3%
  • Other Americas & Oceania Americas and Oceania excluding Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean
    1.2% 125 people
    Limburg 1.1% Netherlands 1.7%
  • Indonesia
    0.79% 80 people
    Limburg 1.6% Netherlands 1.9%
  • Turkey
    0.64% 65 people
    Limburg 1.3% Netherlands 2.6%
  • Dutch Caribbean Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
    0.64% 65 people
    Limburg 0.64% Netherlands 1.1%
  • Morocco
    0.30% 30 people
    Limburg 1.5% Netherlands 2.4%
  • Suriname
    0.15% 15 people
    Limburg 0.33% Netherlands 2.0%

First and second generation

Residents with a migration background, by whether they were born abroad themselves.

  • Born abroad (first generation) 78.7% 4,415
  • Born in the Netherlands (second generation) 21.4% 1,200

Men and women

Men
5,215
Women
4,895

Compared with all municipalities

Higher than 99% of all municipalities in the Netherlands

Trend since 1998

Share of residents with a migration background, compared with larger areas.

Measure
  • Municipality of Vaals
  • Limburg
  • Netherlands
Show as table
Year Municipality of VaalsLimburgNetherlands
1998 53.1%19.1%16.7%
1999 52.7%19.2%17.1%
2000 52.8%19.3%17.5%
2001 53.3%19.4%18.0%
2002 52.9%19.6%18.4%
2003 52.4%19.6%18.8%
2004 52.0%19.7%19.0%
2005 50.9%19.6%19.2%
2006 50.4%19.6%19.3%
2007 50.2%19.5%19.4%
2008 49.2%19.6%19.6%
2009 49.0%19.7%19.9%
2010 48.4%19.8%20.3%
2011 48.2%20.0%20.6%
2012 47.9%20.3%20.9%
2013 48.4%20.5%21.1%
2014 48.2%20.7%21.4%
2015 48.7%20.9%21.7%
2016 48.7%21.1%22.1%
2017 49.7%21.5%22.6%
2018 50.7%21.8%23.1%
2019 51.8%22.1%23.6%
2020 52.2%22.5%24.2%
2021 52.5%22.7%24.6%
2022 53.7%23.8%26.0%
2023 54.7%24.7%27.1%
2024 54.5%25.4%27.9%
2025 54.7%26.0%28.5%
2026 55.5%26.6%29.1%

In 2022 CBS switched to a new origin classification. Up to 2021 the line shows the old “migration background” figures; the overlap years show a small break (about +0.8 points nationally).

Cities and villages in Municipality of Vaals

Largest group
Vaals 7,710 +1.5 pp Germany
Vijlen 1,385 −0.3 pp Germany
Lemiers 1,010 +8.6 pp Germany

All figures

Number of residents per origin group on 1 January. Figures up to 2021 use the old CBS classification.

Year Total residentsDutch originMigration backgroundEuropeOutside EuropeTurkeyMoroccoSurinameIndonesiaDutch CaribbeanGermanyPolandBelgiumOther EuropeOther AfricaOther AsiaOther Americas & OceaniaWestern migration backgroundNon-Western migration background
1998 10,8605,1005,7655,475300151559004,700504652605585355,575195
1999 10,9855,1955,7855,4703252015158504,650704702807090355,580210
2000 10,8255,1055,7205,3403652020108504,5307045029075125355,445265
2001 10,8355,0705,7755,310470251559054,41575435385110180405,420350
2002 10,7355,0605,6755,220455202058554,33055435400105175455,325350
2003 10,6305,0555,5705,105460301058554,24060420385100185405,215350
2004 10,4255,0005,4204,9604603020158554,1306540536085185405,060360
2005 10,2255,0255,2054,780425302058503,9857539532560180454,890315
2006 10,0704,9905,0804,6554254015209553,8606038035555170254,755320
2007 9,9654,9655,0004,5504504015109553,7407037037050190454,660325
2008 9,8455,0004,8404,4104303025159053,6157037035550190354,525320
2009 9,8305,0104,8154,36046035251510053,5508535537055200304,465340
2010 9,8705,1004,7754,30046030201595103,4758035539060205304,415365
2011 9,8105,0804,7254,2504853520158553,4059534540560220454,350375
2012 9,7455,0804,6654,19048535151090153,33512033540060210504,300370
2013 9,7705,0404,7304,21552040201090103,34013033041570220654,325400
2014 9,6855,0154,6704,15552540101590153,29013532540580225504,270405
2015 9,6904,9754,7154,19052035201090203,29513532543565230504,300410
2016 9,6354,9404,6954,13556040151590203,26513530543065260554,250450
2017 9,7104,8804,8304,2305954520585203,31015531045565285754,350475
2018 9,8754,8705,0054,38562045201090303,45016030547070290654,510490
2019 10,0954,8705,2254,60062040201090353,60017529553065295654,725500
2020 10,1054,8355,2704,61065540201085403,61016527556065320754,730540
2021 10,0854,7955,2904,62566540251090353,58016528060070305904,745545
2022 10,1354,6905,4404,66577545301085503,600165290605753801054,760600
2023 10,1954,6205,5754,8007654525585553,560165275785753651104,900595
2024 10,1204,6005,5204,7158054530590603,48017526580090375110––
2025 10,0054,5355,4704,64582550351585603,42016526079080395115––
2026 10,1054,4905,6104,5901,02065301580653,345175255815135500125––

Definitions and method · CBS 85640NED (2022–2026), 83503NED (1998–2023)