Politicians are most likely to be distrusted in rural areas outside the big five cities, with Zeeland and Limburg leading the way, according to research by Kieskompas.

Some 35% of voters nationwide said their dominant feeling about politics and politicians was ‘distrust’ but the figure topped 51% in Zeeland and 45% in Limburg. But in Groningen, where the earthquake scandal has impacted on the lives of huge numbers of locals, the figure was only 36%.

‘Distrust’ was also the most common emotion expressed in nine of the 12 provinces, but in Zuid-Holland, Noord-Holland and Utrecht, which are home to the four big cities, ‘interest’ was the most popular answer.

Some 54% of all respondents said they felt politicians often forgot people living in the countryside – and that sentiment was most commonly expressed by people in Groningen and Drenthe.

Despite the mixed feelings, only 7% agreed with the sentiment that there is no point in voting in provincial elections, and 78% said it was a useful thing to do.

Dutch nationals can vote in the provincial elections, and indirectly for the senate, on March 15. Almost everyone resident in the Netherlands can vote for the waterboards on the same day.