Air quality
Clean air matters for your lungs and heart. Here you’ll learn what nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are, how to compare the numbers and what you can do.
Check an address
Enter an address and go straight to air quality in the report.
What do we measure?
We look at three substances: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), mainly from exhaust fumes; particulate matter (PM10); and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can get deep into your lungs. These are annual averages calculated by RIVM.
Why does it matter?
In the long run, air pollution can lead to lung disease and cardiovascular disease. Children, older people and people with asthma or COPD are extra sensitive. Right next to busy roads the air is often dirtier than a few streets away.
How to read the numbers
Values are in micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m³). We compare with the WHO guidelines (2021): NO₂ 10, PM10 15 and PM2.5 5. These are strict: almost nowhere in the Netherlands meets the PM2.5 guideline. That’s why we also show the European limits for 2030: NO₂ 20, PM10 20 and PM2.5 10.
What can you do?
Ventilate on the side away from busy roads. Avoid burning wood, as it causes a lot of local particulate matter. Luchtmeetnet.nl (Dutch) shows live measurements from monitoring stations.
Explore the map
Annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration, calculated by RIVM. Zoom in on your own neighbourhood. The map is indicative; the report per address explains more.
Map source: RIVM Atlas Leefomgeving
Frequently asked questions
Why does almost all of the Netherlands score above the WHO guideline?
The 2021 WHO guidelines are much stricter than before. Especially for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) they are met almost nowhere in the Netherlands, partly due to pollution from abroad.
What is the difference between PM10 and PM2.5?
The number is the particle size in micrometres. PM2.5 is smaller, gets deeper into your lungs and is therefore more harmful.
Are these measurements at my home?
No, they are calculated annual averages on a map. Locally, for example right next to a busy street, it can differ.
How up to date is the data?
The maps refer to 2024 and were published by RIVM in 2026.