Health News in English
Latest health headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Brussels to call on member states to ban conversion therapy
The European Commission will call on EU member states to ban conversion therapy in response to a petition signed by over one million people. However, the Commission does not intend to propose a unifie...
Bloemendaal beaches awarded Blue Flag again
The beaches of Bloemendaal aan Zee and Parnassia have once again been awarded the international Blue Flag certification for excellence in safety, water quality, and sustainability. This annual recogni...
ECDC: no signs that hantavirus on Hondius has mutated
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has found no evidence that the hantavirus detected on the vessel m/v Hondius has mutated. While French health officials expressed uncertai...
Arnhem schools and municipality urge: 'Give your child a phone as late as possible'
Nineteen schools, childcare organizations, and the municipality of Arnhem are advising parents to wait as long as possible before giving children smartphones. They also recommend that children under s...
Radboudumc calls hantavirus errors 'unfortunate coincidence'
Radboudumc hospital has attributed procedural failures involving a hantavirus patient to human error, resulting in the potential exposure of twelve employees. These staff members are currently in a si...
Study shows cultural activities are as good for you as sports
New research suggests that regularly engaging in cultural and artistic activities, such as painting or visiting museums, can slow the physical aging process. These activities are found to contribute t...
NVWA seizes 220,000 vapes from company and storage facility
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) seized nearly 220,000 illegal vapes and 50,000 nicotine pouches from locations in South Holland and North Brabant. The prohibited item...
For years Rudie didn't know what was wrong with his body until his Parkinson's diagnosis
After years of experiencing unexplained physical symptoms, Rudie felt a sense of relief upon finally being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. While he manages to maintain his routine at work, he face...
Hacked lab failed to secure data properly, inspection finds
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate found that the Clinical Diagnostics laboratory failed to adequately secure its data before being hacked last year. This breach allowed cybercriminals to steal me...
Police urgently searching for man with dementia (81) missing since yesterday afternoon
Police are urgently searching for 81-year-old Cheong Kau Chan, who has dementia and diabetes and went missing in Amsterdam yesterday afternoon. He was last seen walking from Muiderpoortstation toward ...
Lessons for the new board: "Don't let people get stuck in bureaucracy"
As Amsterdam prepares for a new city administration, residents and advocacy groups are urging the government to prioritize the human element over rigid bureaucracy. Critics point to the difficulties c...
Slightly more people drowned last year than the year before
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 250 Dutch citizens drowned last year, representing a slight increase from the 245 deaths recorded in 2024. This total is also higher than the five-year annua...
132 drownings in the Netherlands last year: urinating in canals can be fatal
A total of 132 people drowned in the Netherlands last year, consisting of 100 residents and 32 foreign nationals. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the majority of these drowning victims were...
Skyr is flying off the shelves, but is it actually better than regular quark?
Supermarkets in the Netherlands are facing shortages of the dairy product skyr due to a surge in demand driven by social media trends on Instagram and TikTok. Suppliers are currently struggling to kee...
Spaarne Gasthuis, Buurts and GGD demand more public transport, neighborhood teams and mold prevention: ‘That is what is needed’
The regional healthcare platform Sigra is calling on municipalities in the Haarlem area to invest in mold prevention for housing, expand neighborhood social teams, and upgrade public transport service...
Study: Surgery for children with appendicitis not always necessary
A study by Amsterdam UMC involving 300 children across 15 Dutch hospitals found that antibiotics can effectively treat simple appendicitis, potentially making surgery unnecessary. The research suggest...
UK repatriates 10 people for preventive hantavirus isolation
The UK Health Security Agency is repatriating ten British citizens from remote island territories, including passengers from the cruise ship m/v Hondius, for preventive isolation. This measure follows...
WHO chief: Work not yet finished after Hondius evacuation
The evacuation of the cruise ship Hondius following a deadly hantavirus outbreak has been completed. WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the organization's work regarding the incid...
Fillers can restore volume to your face, but what’s actually in them?
Doctor Marguerite van Randwijck explains the use of cosmetic fillers to restore facial volume, detailing how the treatments work and the substances involved. This guide is part of a series addressing ...
Ship doctors' association: Wear masks sooner on board
Arend Jansen, chairman of the Dutch Medical Nautical Society, suggests that face masks should be worn sooner on ships when respiratory infections are suspected. This recommendation follows a hantaviru...
Haarlem residents' healthcare costs rise for fourth year in a row
Residents of Haarlem spent nearly 510 million euros on healthcare in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of rising costs. According to data from Vektis, the five percent increase represents the ...
Jetten briefly in hospital after being stung while swimming
Dutch Premier Rob Jetten was briefly hospitalized on Bonaire on Tuesday morning after being stung by an unidentified creature while swimming. Jetten experienced an allergic reaction but did not sustai...
Virtual reality lets healthcare workers experience what it's like to have dementia
Healthcare workers at the Kennemerhart care center in Haarlem are using Virtual Reality technology to experience life from the perspective of a person with dementia. This immersive training, featured ...
Ryanair flight makes emergency landing at Schiphol after pilot falls ill
A Ryanair flight made an emergency landing at Schiphol Airport on Monday evening after a pilot became unwell. The airline confirmed the medical emergency on Tuesday, stating that it necessitated the u...
Bonnie Tyler still very ill after surgery but in stable condition
74-year-old Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler is in stable condition at a hospital in Portugal following surgery. Although she remains quite ill, her medical team expects her to make a full recovery.
Amsterdam makes progress in tackling housing crisis, but major challenges remain
Amsterdam is making progress in addressing its housing crisis by increasing the number of social housing units and reducing waiting times for applicants. Additionally, new measures have been implement...
RIVM: Passengers on first Hondius flight test negative for virus
All passengers from the Dutch cruise ship Hondius who arrived on the first repatriation flight have tested negative for the hantavirus. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RI...
The municipal bathhouse was an instrument of civilization (though things sometimes got quite uncivilized)
A century and a half ago, municipal bathhouses served as vital hygiene facilities for working-class residents who lacked private showers and running water. These institutions were considered tools for...
Walk of Life Warm-Up in Heemskerk: walking for connection and mental health: ‘A walk is the shortest path to a good conversation’
The Walk of Life Warming-Up initiative is organizing walks across the Netherlands, including Heemskerk, to promote mental health and social connection. Led locally by Fabienne Zwanenburg, the program ...
Dawn swimming at De Houtvaart. Outdoor pool opens season on Ascension Day
The historic Houtvaart outdoor swimming pool will begin its season on Ascension Day with an early morning "dew swimming" event. From 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM, visitors can enjoy the water for a special entr...