Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Socio-economic and spatial statistics (SER) > Environmental, energy and spatial statistics (SLO)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Statistics Netherlands The Hague
P.O. Box 24500 2490 HA The Hague
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
18 October 2022
2.2. Metadata last posted
18 October 2022
2.3. Metadata last update
18 October 2022
3.1. Data description
Data on European cities were collected in the City Statistics, the Urban Audit, and in the Large City Audit project. The projects' ultimate goal is to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of urban life: it supports the exchange of experience among European cities; it helps to identify best practices; it facilitates benchmarking at the European level and provides information on the dynamics within the cities and with their surroundings.
For information on the data disseminated by Eurostat, please refer to the UA reference metadata. The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of urban life in cities.
Availability of data see Annex 1; description of the data see Annex 2.
3.2. Classification system
Specific classification and coding systems have been developed for the spatial units and for the variables and indicators. For the description of the coding system and the list of indicators and variables, see the City statistics manual.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The indicators and variables cover several aspects of quality of life, e.g. demography, housing, health, crime, labour market, income disparity, educational qualifications, environment, climate, travel patterns and cultural infrastructure.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
For most variables, the definitions of the Eurostat City statistics manual for existing international standards have been followed. In case of deviating definitions, information is provided in Annex 2.
3.5. Statistical unit
Statistical units are mostly persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities, etc. For the complete description of variables, see the City statistics manual.
3.6. Statistical population
For most variables, the target statistical universe is the usual residents of a geographical area (City and Functional Urban Area). For the detailed description of variables, see the City statistics manual.
3.7. Reference area
Spatial units are listed in the Eurostat City statistics manual.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data collection is organized in data collection rounds. The current data collection covers the years 2021 and 2022.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The unit of measurement varies from indicator to indicator; from variable to variable. In most cases, the unit of measurement is included in the label.
2021 and 2022 are the reference years for the main data collection.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
All data supply of urban statistics is based on a voluntary agreement, as there is no Community legislation yet on this topic.
The legal framework for the geo-spatial definitions is the TERCET Regulation.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164) stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines, ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
There is no fixed release calendar.
Data are released as soon as they are received and validated.
The source data were published in StatLine, the publicly online database of Statistics Netherlands: https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/ (Dutch version). A selection of tables is also available in an English translation:
The definitions of the Eurostat City statistics manual have been followed. In cases of deviating methodologies, Annex 2 informs on the methodology applied:
The quality assurance procedures detailed in the City statistics manual have been applied.
11.1. Quality assurance
In addition to the general procedures in official statistics, arranging the collected City Statistics data in time-series helps to ensure their plausibility and comparability.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The data used for the city statistics are the outcomes of official national statistics: these undergo the detailed quality management procedures of the national statistical office, similarly the data from other official sources. All compiled data are checked by the NUAC's office and again by the EDIT-tool provided by Eurostat. It is an important feature of the City Statistics that all data are harmonised to comply with the prescribed definitions as published in the Eurostat Methodological Handbook on city statistics.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
User needs and stakeholder requirements are collected at several forums.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User needs and stakeholder requirements are collected at several forums. Comments and contributions are welcome to be sent to the contact.
12.3. Completeness
Overview of data availability is provided in Annex 1. Variables that couldn’t be included in this year’s data delivery are indicated, where possible with an explanation (see Annex 2).
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data quality is generally good.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Depends on the domain and individual variable. As a general rule, timeliness is about 12 months.
14.2. Punctuality
Data provision follows the timetable of the project, with a time lag of 1 - 2 years.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Due to the sometimes deviating definitions and different data sources used, the comparability of data is limited to some extent. Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in Annex 2.
The implementation of a fully comparable definition of cities at European level has improved the comparability.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (flag B).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data collected at sub-national level is coherent with the data collected at national level to a limited extent due to the different data sources used. Most data for cities and FUAs originate from official statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence (e.g. between spatial levels, between indicators like total, male, female population) is ensured through the application of multivariable and univariable validation controls.
The data collection is mostly based on administrative data, so the main burden is on Statistics Netherlands.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected from various sources as described in the metadata Annex 1.
The main sources are:
municipal population registers containing information on reported births, death and migration
national registers: of buildings and dwellings, motor vehicles and traffic accidents
a number of surveys performed by Statistics Netherlands, e.g. the Labour Force Survey
the national register with information on wages and social contributions (Polisadministatie)
crime registers of the National Police Force
student registers from secondary schools, colleges and universities.
See also Annex 2 - Description of data
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The Urban Audit is a multi-annual data collection. The reference period of the current data collection is 2021-2022.
18.3. Data collection
Most data are collected from regular statistics by the NSI for Statistics Netherlands (coordinator) and a number of colleagues from various departments of the organization. For a number of variables specific calculations were necessary, and/or the use of external data sources.
18.4. Data validation
Statistics Netherlands applies data validation and other means of quality assurance for the official national statistics as described on their website: https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/over-ons/organisation/quality. Various plausibility checks are performed by comparisons over time, as well as consistency checks. Furthermore, the EDIT-tool with extensive validation procedures provided by Eurostat is used.
18.5. Data compilation
For most variables, municipal data (already published and publicly available) were aggregated to the level of City and FUA. For some variables, e.g. a number of variables concerning Labour market the data were specifically calculated from the microdata.
Data on European cities were collected in the City Statistics, the Urban Audit, and in the Large City Audit project. The projects' ultimate goal is to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of urban life: it supports the exchange of experience among European cities; it helps to identify best practices; it facilitates benchmarking at the European level and provides information on the dynamics within the cities and with their surroundings.
For information on the data disseminated by Eurostat, please refer to the UA reference metadata. The data collection provides information and comparable measurements on the different aspects of the quality of urban life in cities.
Availability of data see Annex 1; description of the data see Annex 2.
18 October 2022
For most variables, the definitions of the Eurostat City statistics manual for existing international standards have been followed. In case of deviating definitions, information is provided in Annex 2.
Statistical units are mostly persons. Few variables are collected on households, enterprises, dwellings, cities, etc. For the complete description of variables, see the City statistics manual.
For most variables, the target statistical universe is the usual residents of a geographical area (City and Functional Urban Area). For the detailed description of variables, see the City statistics manual.
Spatial units are listed in the Eurostat City statistics manual.
2021 and 2022 are the reference years for the main data collection.
Data quality is generally good.
The unit of measurement varies from indicator to indicator; from variable to variable. In most cases, the unit of measurement is included in the label.
For most variables, municipal data (already published and publicly available) were aggregated to the level of City and FUA. For some variables, e.g. a number of variables concerning Labour market the data were specifically calculated from the microdata.
Data are collected from various sources as described in the metadata Annex 1.
The main sources are:
municipal population registers containing information on reported births, death and migration
national registers: of buildings and dwellings, motor vehicles and traffic accidents
a number of surveys performed by Statistics Netherlands, e.g. the Labour Force Survey
the national register with information on wages and social contributions (Polisadministatie)
crime registers of the National Police Force
student registers from secondary schools, colleges and universities.
See also Annex 2 - Description of data
The database is updated continually, depending on the data availability of new and revised data.
Depends on the domain and individual variable. As a general rule, timeliness is about 12 months.
Due to the sometimes deviating definitions and different data sources used, the comparability of data is limited to some extent. Detailed information on data sources and deviating definitions is available in Annex 2.
The implementation of a fully comparable definition of cities at European level has improved the comparability.
Breaks in the time series are flagged accordingly (flag B).
