Today, CBS published the results of Experiences 2025, a large-scale survey among thousands of Dutch people about their experiences with and views on artificial intelligence. The figures paint a clear picture for the first time of how working people in the Netherlands view AI.
What the numbers say
Of all people with paid work, 41 percent think that AI can partly take over their work. 4 percent even think it is completely possible. On the other hand, more than half think AI cannot replace their work. The Netherlands is therefore not in panic, but not naive either, but quite divided.
What is also striking: 43 percent of workers already use AI in carrying out their work.
The users know more
The most striking insight from the research is in the difference between users and non-users. Of those workers who are already using AI, 56 percent think it can take over all or part of their work. Of those who do not yet use AI, this is 37 percent.
That may sound alarming: the people with the most experience are the most convinced that AI can do their job. But you can also read it differently and that is how I read it.
Those who use AI have a more realistic idea of what it can do. They see first-hand how quickly a language model summarizes a report, writes an analysis or even builds a campaign dashboard for you. Not perfect, but getting better and only good enough to realize that this is serious.
No matter how exciting, intangible and sometimes scary it is, I see that awareness as an advantage.
The opportunities that the Netherlands sees
CBS also asked about the expected consequences of AI for the labor market. 57 percent of all adults expect AI to increase productivity by getting work done faster. 46 percent think AI can help solve workforce shortages in certain sectors.
In a country that has been struggling for years with tight labor markets, from healthcare to technology, from education to construction, this is a perspective that should not be underestimated. AI is not just a threat to jobs. It may be part of the solution for many sectors.
However, 75 percent think that certain jobs will disappear due to AI. And 64 percent expect that AI can lead to loss of knowledge and skills. Dutch people see both the opportunities and the risks. And that seems like a good starting point to me.
The lesson: Using it right makes you irreplaceable
For me, this is the core of this research. Yes, those who use AI become more aware of the impact. Yes, 56 percent of AI users think it can take over some of their work. But that same group does something that non-users do not: they build experience.
They learn what AI is good at and where it falls short. They discover how best to work with it. They develop a skill that is becoming increasingly important in every position, in every sector: working effectively with AI.
The 57 percent of non-users who think AI can't replace their work may be right. But the risk is that in two years they will no longer be able to say that and will then be left without experience.
The paradox of this CBS study is that the people who appear most "threatened" are actually the best positioned. They know what's coming, and they're already working on it. Not by worrying, but by using it.
What now?
43 percent of working people in the Netherlands use AI. This means that 57 percent do not yet do so. If this study makes anything clear, it's this: start. Not because your job will disappear tomorrow, but because the best way to stay relevant is to understand what this technology can do for your work.
And you only understand that by doing it.
This article is based on the CBS survey Experiences 2025, published on February 25, 2026. The full publication is available atcbs.nl.
