Now this is a problem you don't generally hear about: especially since most jails throughout the globe are saying they're operating at overcapacity and there isn't any more room at the inn.

Dutch jails, however, say their inmate population has dwindled to the extent that there are now more guards than there are detainees.

On one hand, violent crime rates are falling, they said, but on the other, some have questioned whether jail sentences for violent offenders are a bit too light.

In the past six years, the county of more than 17 million had its inmate population drop from 15,000 to less than 10,000.

(To contrast, California has about 38 million residents and the state is detaining more than 120,000 people in state prisons and tens of thousands of others are being held in county jails.)

A spokesperson for the Dutch Justice Ministry said they are looking into the reason for the decline but for now, they'll move forward with plans to close detention facilities and cut jail staff.

And although labor unions are protesting the decision, saying the move will lead to staffing shortages in the future, government officials disagree.

The number of violent incidents at the county's jails have been steadily declining, they said, and current staffing levels reportedly exceed what's needed.