Table 1.

Background Characteristics of Members of the General Public Who Responded to the Online Survey (n = 1,965) ^a

	No.	%
Demographics
Sex
Male	992	50.5
Female	973	49.5
Age, y
16–39	414	21.1
40–69	1,144	58.2
≥70	407	20.7
Composition of household
Living with partner	1,446	73.6
Living without partner	519	26.4
Education b
Low	552	28.1
Middle	636	32.4
High	777	39.5
Background
Dutch	1,897	97.7
Non‐Dutch	45	2.3
Adheres to religious/philosophical life stance
Yes	954	49.2
No	984	50.8
Considers religion important
Yes	378	19.2
No	1,587	80.8
Level of urbanization
Low	759	39.0
Moderate	402	20.7
High	783	40.3
Health status
General health
(Very) good	1,626	82.7
Moderate to (very) bad	339	17.3
Diagnosis of dementia
Yes	3	.2
No	1,962	99.8
Characteristics related to euthanasia
Experience: Close relative has requested a physician for euthanasia
Yes	657	33.5
No	1,305	66.5
Opinion: Do you think it is right that there is a euthanasia law?
Yes, I think I could request euthanasia	1,498	76.4
Yes, but I would never request euthanasia myself	241	12.3
No, I do not think it is right to have this law	14	0.7
No, I am opposed to euthanasia	99	5.0
Do not know	110	5.6
For patients with advanced dementia, a written euthanasia request is required to be eligible for euthanasia.
Agree	1,024	52.1
Disagree	367	18.7
Do not know	574	29.2

^aThe number of missing varied between 0 and 27 (1.4%).

^bLow: primary education, prevocational secondary (VMBO), the lower years of senior general (HAVO) or pre‐university (VWO) education, or lower level secondary vocational education (MBO‐1). Middle: secondary education diplomas at vocational (MBO 2, 3 or 4), senior general (HAVO) or pre‐university (VWO) level.High: higher (HBO) or university education (WO).