In Drenthe, nearly ten percent more people will die this year than originally expected. This is apparent from an analysis by ANP/LocalFocus based on death figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Until the end of August, a total of 3,878 inhabitants died in Drenthe.
It is expected that there should have been 3,536. The excess mortality amounts to 342 people. That is 9.7 percent more than expected. According to the CBS, there has been monthly excess mortality since April. The death rate has increased, especially among residents of nursing homes and the elderly.
In addition to Drenthe, the number of deaths in Flevoland (14.5 percent) and the Hart van Brabant region (10.7 percent) is also higher than would be expected based on figures from previous years. Nationally, the number of deaths this year is almost six percent higher than expected.
Until the end of August, approximately 108,700 Dutch people died. That should actually have been about 6,000 fewer, based on calculations with historical death rates.
CBS previously concluded that the excess mortality is partly due to the corona pandemic, but that the virus cannot explain everything. The institute does not yet know what causes the excess mortality nationwide. An analysis of the causes of death since May has not yet been completed.
According to researcher Ruben van Gaalen, this means that the statistical office will only gain insight into the regional differences at a later date. It is therefore also difficult to say whether there are demonstrable reasons for the differences or whether they have come about by chance.