The difference in health is also growing. The life expectancy of residents of Overvecht, where many people live who have difficulty making ends meet, is 13.4 years shorter in good health than that of residents of Northeast. Most residents can make ends meet there. The municipality is further concerned about young people. One in three Dutch young people has mental complaints and that number is increasing. More than one in five young adults in Utrecht is also seriously lonely. According to the municipality, substance use among young people is high, one in three is a heavy drinker and one in five uses hard drugs, figures for 2022 show.
Utrecht residents are happy, but the city’s rapid growth also causes problems
