A new, representative Dutch survey finds that video doorbells are widely seen as a security booster, but that perceived safety does not always translate into safer behaviour. While 94% of people who own a video doorbell say it contributes to their home’s security, more than a quarter (27%) of owners admit they do not always fully lock their front door.

Key findings

• 34% of Dutch households have a video doorbell.
• 94% of those owners believe the device helps secure their home; among non-owners, 66% say a video doorbell would increase safety.
• 27% of owners sometimes close the door without locking it fully.
• Privacy concerns are significant: 53% find it uncomfortable if someone else’s doorbell camera films part of their home or private space, and 33% feel watched when passing a house with a video doorbell (41% among non-owners).
• 54% of respondents say there should be more oversight of how video doorbells are used (62% among those without one).

The survey was conducted by PanelWizard among 1,014 people on behalf of Kozijnshop.nl and is representative for gender, age, education level, household situation, employment and region.

Experts: devices help but don’t replace physical security or clear rules

Bart Voortman, director of Kozijnshop.nl, highlighted the gap between feeling safe and taking practical security steps. He urged homeowners to pair monitoring devices with robust locks — for example three-point locks and protection against cylinder pulling — to prevent quick burglaries.

Roy de Kleijn, a cognitive psychology lecturer at Leiden University and an expert in artificial intelligence, said the privacy concerns are understandable. People are unsure what happens to footage from doorbell cameras, how widely it is shared or stored, and whether current regulations are actually followed in everyday use.

What this means for homeowners and policy

The results suggest two concurrent trends: video doorbells are becoming a common component of home security, but they raise questions about behavioural risk compensation (feeling safer leading to laxer habits) and about privacy and data governance. Policymakers and platform providers may face growing pressure to clarify rules on image capture, storage and third-party access, while installers and retailers can help by reminding customers about physical locking practices and privacy settings.

Practical takeaways for residents include continuing to use certified locks, enabling privacy zones and clear retention policies when possible, and checking vendor information on where footage is stored and who can access it.

Source: Survey by PanelWizard for Kozijnshop.nl (1,014 respondents).

Source: Original press release