Dutch country leaps from 14th to first place in Berkshire Hathaway ranking, praised for healthcare, inclusivity and peace-loving culture.
The Netherlands has claimed the top spot as the world’s safest country in 2026, according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s latest annual ranking, voted by American travellers.
The Dutch nation jumped from 14th place last year, earning particularly high marks for healthcare access, overall safety measures, and its welcoming environment for female travellers, LGBTQIA+ visitors, and travellers of colour. The dramatic rise reflects evolving priorities amongst global tourists.
“We’re seeing a shift in how travelers define ‘safe,'” said a Berkshire Hathaway spokesperson. “It’s not just about crime rates anymore, people are also considering healthcare access, climate stability and inclusivity.”
The ranking unseated Iceland, last year’s champion, which dropped to fourth place despite maintaining its status as the world’s most peaceful nation. Australia secured second position with strong scores for health measures and terrorism safety, whilst Austria – absent from 2024’s list entirely – claimed third place. Canada rounded out the top five.
Reykjavik in Iceland was named the safest city globally, notable for having no neighbourhoods considered unsafe, followed by Copenhagen, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Honolulu.
One has to take the results with a grain of salt though, as the assessment surveyed over 1,800 American travellers – admittedly not always the most adventurous or cultured globetrotters. Their experiences were evaluated across five years, on factors including terrorism risks, weather emergencies, healthcare quality, and safety for underrepresented groups.
The 15 safest countries for 2026:
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Austria
- Iceland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Arab Emirates
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Ireland
- Belgium
- Portugal
- France
- United Kingdom
- Denmark
