Health News in English
Latest health headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Explosion and major fire in Zwaanshoek: "Heard a huge bang"
A large fire and explosion occurred at a construction company on Hillegommerdijk in Zwaanshoek on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services, including a police helicopter, were dispatched to the scene wh...
Why women are more likely to develop dementia than men, and how to reduce your risk
One in three women in the Netherlands develops dementia, a higher rate than men due to gender-specific risk factors that impact the female brain more significantly according to recent research. Neurol...
Long-term sick employees to miss out on €17,000: ‘We are going back in time’
Starting next year, employers in the Netherlands will no longer be compensated for severance payments to long-term sick employees, potentially costing workers an average of 17,000 euros. The labor uni...
Wesley (20) from Lisserbroek is lonely, like many peers: "It feels like I don't exist"
Wesley Schakel from Lisserbroek shares his struggle with loneliness following an epilepsy diagnosis, reflecting a broader trend where 58% of young adults in the Kennemerland region report similar feel...
How will Mark Rutte’s memory hold up during the upcoming COVID hearings?
The Dutch Parliamentary Inquiry Committee has begun eight weeks of hearings to examine the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020. Key figures are being questioned to identify...
Neighborhood accuses Haarlem of 'lies and cover-up' over rat infestation
Residents of Haarlem's Kleverpark neighborhood have taken the municipality to court over a persistent rat infestation and alleged lack of transparency regarding the sewer system's condition. While loc...
Children's sports school Fitkidzz Studio in Haarlem to host Special Olympics demonstration event. 'It's important to inspire people'
Fitkidzz Studio in Haarlem has been selected to organize the MATP demonstration sport for the 2026 Special Olympics. Founded by Ardine Schemmekes, the sports school provides a supportive environment f...
What every contact lens wearer needs to know, according to ophthalmologist: ‘Bacteria can settle in the surface’
Ophthalmologist Serdar Yavuzyigitoglu provides essential advice for contact lens wearers to prevent bacterial infections and maintain eye health. Given that millions of people in the Netherlands use l...
Tangle of age limits and checks in running world for full and half marathons: 'We are not the police'
The death of a 15-year-old girl during a race in Leiden has prompted an investigation into the inconsistent age limits and health regulations for marathons. The study reveals a lack of standardized ru...
Tennis player Lucas to Special Olympics: I think I'll get gold, I hope for silver
24-year-old Lucas Matthes is set to compete in tennis at the Special Olympics National Games held in Haarlem next weekend. Matthes, an ambassador for the event and a former Dutch national champion in ...
Noraly Beyer on Joost Prinsen's farewell: He just didn't want to anymore
Noraly Beyer revealed that her partner, presenter Joost Prinsen, decided to end his life after suffering a stroke in October 2025. The stroke left Prinsen partially paralyzed and with speech difficult...
The Greenhouse | Kilos of waste during surgery, try changing that
Climate reporter Jeroen Kraan highlights the significant waste produced during medical operations in his latest column. While the healthcare sector is increasingly prioritizing sustainability, signifi...
Signs were repeatedly missed, and now 70,000 children are out of school: ‘School hadn’t missed her until she posted about chicken nuggets’
The number of children staying home from school in the Netherlands has reached 70,000, with figures continuing to rise each year. While politicians often blame teacher shortages and large class sizes,...
Wouter Klootwijk on young people needing to eat more herring: ‘If they don’t start eating fish soon, they won’t even live to be very old’
In his weekly column, Wouter Klootwijk advocates for increased herring consumption among young people, citing its importance for health and longevity. He warns that a lack of fish in their diet could ...
Special training for neighborhood dispute mediators as problems grow more complex
BeterBuren has launched a pilot program in Amsterdam to provide specialized training for volunteer mediators dealing with increasingly complex neighbor disputes involving mental health issues or cultu...
Jeroen Elshoff: ‘I limp for two days after playing football’
In an interview with Mezza magazine, sports commentator Jeroen Elshoff discusses his physical health and passion for amateur soccer. Despite suffering from chronic knee pain that leaves him limping fo...
Cruise ship Hondius departs Rotterdam
The cruise ship Hondius departed from the port of Rotterdam on Saturday evening following a hantavirus outbreak on board in April. The vessel is currently sailing to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, where i...
Parkinson's cure draws closer in this futuristic lab
Researchers in a Spanish laboratory are working on a cure for Parkinson's disease, a currently incurable condition that causes progressive physical and mental decline. The project aims to develop a re...
Marius Borg Høiby may be temporarily released from custody under supervision
Marius Borg Høiby may be granted a temporary supervised release from prison to visit his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. The potential leave, which would be escorted by prison staff, is...
Head-on collision between motorcycle and car in Nieuw-Vennep, driver arrested
A motorcyclist was hospitalized following a head-on collision with a car in Nieuw-Vennep on Wednesday afternoon. The car driver was arrested after testing positive for alcohol and drugs, and his vehic...
Canada bans Texas livestock after flesh-eating screwworm outbreak
Canada has temporarily banned livestock imports from the U.S. state of Texas due to an outbreak of the flesh-eating screwworm fly. The Governor of Texas declared a state of emergency on Friday followi...
Feminist activists take action against the summer body: "Everyone has a beach body"
The feminist action group Dolle Mina's held a demonstration at the Grote Markt in Haarlem to challenge 'summer body' beauty standards. Using props and mock makeovers, the group promoted the message th...
Nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in Central Africa
The World Health Organization reports nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in Central Africa, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 80 deaths have been officially recor...
CU leader Bikker lashes out at cabinet's 'liberal pushy agenda'
ChristenUnie leader Mirjam Bikker criticized the Dutch government during a party congress for failing to show promised restraint in medical-ethical issues, such as embryo research. She called for an e...
We need to look at weight loss differently, expert says: 'Weight-loss drugs are turning obesity care upside down'
Emeritus professor Chris Mulder states that weight loss medication is fundamentally changing obesity care in the Netherlands. Although the country is at the beginning of this major shift, it remains p...
From collagen to panthenol and hyaluronic acid: what does each ingredient do? Experts explain
Experts explain the functions of popular skincare ingredients such as collagen, panthenol, and hyaluronic acid in achieving smooth and healthy skin. The article details how specific components like Vi...
Caesar (21), Stijn (24) and Max (26) to walk the Camino and develop an AI mental health app on the way: 'The world will be our office'
Three friends, including Haarlem resident Max Helmantel, are embarking on a six-day, 120-kilometer Camino pilgrimage through Portugal starting in mid-August. During their trek, the trio will utilize A...
Little support for fast food ban in Haarlem-East: 'We'll decide for ourselves whether we go to a snack bar'
A proposed ban on snack bars in the new Hart voor Oostpoort district in Haarlem has met with strong public opposition, according to a local newspaper poll. Over 75% of respondents disagree with the po...
More and more preschoolers are not going to school: "My child disappeared as a file into the background"
An increasing number of five- and six-year-old children in Amsterdam are staying home because schools cannot find suitable placements that provide the necessary specialized support for their developme...
Karlijn missed care and peer support as a young caregiver. She wrote a book to help others find their way.
Karlijn Stet from Velserbroek has published a book titled 'Groeibriljanten' based on her childhood experiences as a young caregiver for her brother. The book aims to provide support and guidance to ot...