Abstract Background Adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation in every day practice may be less than in clinical trials. Aims To assess adherence to DOACs in atrial fibrillation patients in every day practice and identify predictors for non‐adherence. Methods Individual linked dispensing data of atrial fibrillation patients who used DOACs were obtained from the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics covering the Netherlands between 2012 and 2016. One year adherence to DOAC was calculated for initial DOAC as proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥80% and the association between clinical variables and adherence was assessed using logistic regression. In addition, we measured non‐persistence, that is, patients who completely stopped their initial DOAC within 1 year follow‐up. Results A total of 4797 apixaban‐, 20 454 rivaroxaban‐ and 18 477 dabigatran users were included. The mean age was 69 years (n = 43 910), which was similar for the DOAC types. The overall proportion of patients with PDC ≥80% was 76%, which was highest for apixaban‐ (87%), followed by dabigatran‐ (80%) and rivaroxaban (69%) users. Multivariable analyses revealed that age ≤60 years, no concomitant drug use were predictors for non‐adherence. Of atrial fibrillation patients who continued treatment, 97% had a PDC ≥80%, compared with only 56% for those who discontinued their DOAC treatment within 1 year. Conclusions Non‐adherence to DOACs was associated with age ≤60 years and no concomitant drugs use. Non‐adherence was higher in patients who later discontinued DOAC treatment. Results of our study support research into interventions to improve adherence.