Health News in English

Fewer Dutch people calling in sick, but duration of absence is increasing

Sickness absenteeism in the Netherlands dropped to 4.7% in May, though it remains at a higher level than in previous years. Data from occupational health services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare indicate...

Go rest, let everything go. Do it, you can do it

The article highlights the importance of resting as a meaningful and beneficial use of time. It acknowledges the personal difficulty of letting go while encouraging others to prioritize relaxation for...

Florijn can only walk in water: parents fight for Hartekamp therapy pools

Parents Nicole and Ferry Verbrugge have launched a petition to prevent the Hartekamp Groep from closing its therapeutic swimming pools in Heemstede and Heemskerk. The petition, which has already garne...

Amsterdam introduces first cooling spots as heatwave approaches: ‘Staying cool shouldn't depend on your income’

Opinion: ‘There is still plenty of room for a drug consumption bus in Amsterdam-Zuid’

66-year-old man with Alzheimer's missing, possibly cycling toward Haarlem

A 66-year-old man with Alzheimer's has gone missing after being last seen in Amsterdam Nieuw-West on Monday evening. He was riding a distinctive white, green, and orange Postcode Loterij bicycle and i...

French Prime Minister calls crisis meeting on heatwave

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held a crisis meeting with ministers on Tuesday morning to discuss the impact of a severe heatwave affecting the country. A code red alert has been issued for ...

Code orange in central and southern regions from Wednesday due to extreme heat

The KNMI has issued a code orange warning for extreme heat in the central and southern regions of the Netherlands starting Wednesday at noon. Temperatures are expected to exceed 34 degrees Celsius dai...

Fire at Thai massage parlor in Zandvoort, two checked for smoke inhalation

A fire broke out in a Thai massage parlor on Louis Davidsstraat in Zandvoort on Monday afternoon. Emergency services, including the fire department and two ambulances, were dispatched to the scene, wh...

Former minister no longer remembers reason for late 2020 school closures

Former Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven told a parliamentary inquiry committee that she no longer recalls the specific reasons for closing schools in December 2020. During her testimony...

Protein powder popularity leads to stock market euphoria

The surging popularity of protein powder has triggered euphoria on the stock market, leading to large-scale acquisitions and multi-million euro investments. Since 2023, the price of whey protein isola...

The elderly lack thirst signals even though hydration is crucial: here’s why

Elderly individuals are more vulnerable to heat because their bodies regulate temperature less effectively and they often lack a natural thirst stimulus. A clinical geriatrician explains that maintain...

Former minister: rapid tests were not an option to reopen schools

Former Dutch Education Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven testified to a parliamentary inquiry that large-scale rapid testing was too complex to enable the early reopening of vocational and higher educat...

Hypothermic, exhausted, and saddle sore during 1,365km bike ride from Ventoux, but hardships turn into a good story at the finish in Valkenburg

About 200 cyclists completed the tenth edition of "The Ride," a 1,365-kilometer journey from Mont Ventoux in France to Valkenburg in the Netherlands. Over eight days, participants endured physical har...

Uncertainty over sports events due to persistent heat

Sporting event organizers in the Netherlands are adjusting schedules due to a persistent heatwave. The Singelloop in Woerden has canceled children's races for safety reasons, while the 5km and 10km ev...

All Radboud staff out of hantavirus quarantine, none sick

Twelve employees at Radboudumc in Nijmegen have completed their quarantine period without showing any signs of illness following exposure to the hantavirus. They had been monitoring for symptoms after...

Adults in pain are just like small children, Dr. Rutger notes: but they are missing something important

Doctor Rutger observes that adults experiencing pain often behave like children but lack the openness and curiosity typical of younger patients. He notes that while children are inquisitive about thei...

Extra measures at TT Assen due to heat

The TT Circuit Assen is implementing extra safety measures for the event from June 26 to 28 due to expected high temperatures. Visitors are permitted to bring their own non-glass bottles and can refil...

Pediatrician: more child abuse due to school closures

Pediatrician Károly Illy testified before the Dutch parliamentary inquiry committee, stating that school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic likely led to an increase in child abuse. He emphasized ...

Rijkswaterstaat heat protocol in effect in Brabant and Limburg

Rijkswaterstaat has activated its heat protocol for the provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant this Monday. The measure ensures that stranded motorists are quickly moved to safe locations with facilit...

OMT member surprised by specialists' advice for school closures

Pediatrician and OMT member Károly Illy expressed surprise that the Federation of Medical Specialists recommended closing schools in March 2020 without consulting its members. The recommendation was ...

Peter Jan Rens suffers stroke, presenter is on the mend

Dutch television presenter Peter Jan Rens is recovering after suffering a stroke. The news was confirmed by the management of his housemate Johan Vlemmix following initial reports from a celebrity new...

External agency to clear Wmo backlog in Velsen; wait times reach twenty weeks

The municipality of Velsen is hiring an external agency to address a backlog of 600 Social Support Act (Wmo) applications. Current waiting times for these requests have increased to twenty weeks.

Charli XCX struggles with mental health: 'In the worst phase of my life'

Pop star Charli xcx has opened up about her mental health struggles, stating she is currently in the worst phase of her life. Despite her recent global success, the 33-year-old singer shared that she ...

Watch pediatrician’s COVID hearing: why did schools have to close?

A Dutch parliamentary inquiry is holding hearings this week to investigate the reasons behind school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, pediatrician Károly Illy and former Education Mi...

Ebola cases in Congo rise above one thousand

The number of Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 1,000, with 1,003 confirmed cases reported by local authorities. As of Sunday evening, 254 people have died from the vi...

Het Parool wants to know: how are you coping with the heat?

Niek Roozen (28) hit a wall after father’s death: ‘The grief settled in my body’

Dutch actor Niek Roozen shares how suppressing his grief following his father's death led to physical and emotional struggles. By learning to embrace vulnerability instead of trying to remain strong, ...

Sugar tax pushes prices up: Beer soon more expensive due to soft drink tax

The Dutch government's proposed sugar tax for 2030 could lead to significant price increases for both soft drinks and beer. Alcohol excise duties may rise alongside the sugar tax, potentially adding u...

Breestraat transforms into sports and exercise boulevard during Sports Day. ‘Jeu de boules is a relaxing sport’

The Breestraat in Beverwijk was transformed into a regional sports and movement boulevard during the Day of Sports, featuring activities such as football, running, and cycling. The event aimed to prom...