Health News in English

Already more wildfires with NL-Alerts than in all of 2025

In April 2026, the Netherlands recorded five NL-Alerts for wildfires, already surpassing the total issued during the entire year of 2025. An analysis of emergency notifications shows that wildfire-rel...

Toxic mothballs placed in library children's corner, man suspected of attempted murder

A 52-year-old Amsterdam man is facing attempted murder charges for placing toxic mothballs in the children's section of the OBA library in Amsterdam-West. The suspect confessed to the act, claiming he...

Number of crack incidents in Amsterdam doubles in five years, police blame rogue recruitment agencies

Trial for Lisa's murder and rape delayed until January, suspect Chris Jude under further observation

Clyde S. (52) placed toxic mothballs in children's corner of OBA De Hallen to 'ward off evil spirits'

Stephen Fry demands £100,000 in damages after falling off stage at conference

Stephen Fry is seeking £100,000 in damages from the organizers of the CogX tech conference following a fall from the stage in 2023. The accident resulted in the actor and writer suffering several ser...

Mascha has ME, but hardly anyone knows what it is: "In bed all day, it makes you desperate"

An exhibition at Treehouse on the NDSM-terrein in Amsterdam showcases the work of artists living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) to raise awareness about the chronic systemic disease. Participants...

Hundreds of ASML employees suffer health problems

A survey conducted by the FNV trade union reveals that hundreds of employees at chip machine manufacturer ASML are experiencing health problems attributed to wearing face masks. The complaints emerged...

More and more children unable to cycle: ‘Taking road safety test unsafe for some’

Traffic organizations in the Netherlands are warning about a significant decline in cycling proficiency among children. Experts state that some children's skills have become so poor that it is no long...

DNA pioneer Craig Venter dies at 79

Renowned DNA researcher J. Craig Venter has passed away at the age of 79 following complications from cancer treatment. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work as one of the first scientists t...

Karremans: Water will continue to flow for every household

Minister Vincent Karremans assured that drinking water will remain available for all households, even during potential freshwater shortages caused by drought. His statement follows a report from the C...

Jennifer Hoffman (45) changed doctors due to judgment over her pregnancy

Dutch actress Jennifer Hoffman, 45, switched doctors during her second pregnancy after encountering judgmental comments about her age from her previous physician. Hoffman noted that she has faced vari...

Checking your bits during a car inspection: ‘The Fixers’ have groundbreaking solutions for Big Problems

Number of young people in youth care falls for the first time in years

According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the number of young people receiving youth care fell by 2.8% last year to 477,000, marking the first decline since 2015 excluding the 2020 pandemic year. Whi...

Number of over-85s in Haarlem to nearly double — are there enough adapted homes?

The number of households in Haarlem with at least one person aged 85 or older is projected to nearly double from 2,500 to 4,700 by the year 2040. While this aging trend is less severe than in similar ...

Girl on fatbike hospitalized after collision at Haarlem roundabout

A girl was taken to the hospital on Wednesday evening following a collision between her fatbike and a car in Haarlem. The accident occurred at a roundabout at the intersection of Zuiderzeelaan and Eur...

Caregiver consultant Pauline helps residents of Castricum and Uitgeest through the red tape

Consultant Pauline Landwehr Johann is assisting caregivers in Castricum and Uitgeest by helping them navigate the care system and find appropriate resources for their loved ones. Following an initial ...

Vitamins are popular but not always harmless: toxicologist discusses risks

Toxicologist Jan Tytgat provides an overview of the effectiveness and risks associated with popular vitamin supplements like magnesium and vitamin K. He cautions that while these products are often us...

No dangerous levels detected in smoke in parts of South Holland

Smoke from a wildfire near 't Harde drifted over parts of South Holland, including Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn, and Gouda, on Wednesday. Local safety authorities conducted air quality measurements and...

Marco Borsato hospitalized for five days after cycling accident

Dutch singer Marco Borsato was hospitalized for five days following a bicycle accident that occurred two weeks ago. He is currently recovering at home, though his full rehabilitation is expected to ta...

Sick domestic worker wrongfully denied pay: we've known for years but do nothing

A 2024 study by Utrecht University sociologist David de Kort reveals that approximately 90% of Dutch households fail to pay domestic workers during illness. Despite this being a legal requirement sinc...

Smoke from 't Harde wildfire seen and smelled in Amsterdam

Smoke from a large wildfire at a military training ground in 't Harde has reached Amsterdam, carried by the wind. Local emergency services report receiving numerous calls from residents who can see an...

VVD MP Harry Bevers takes temporary leave due to acute leukemia

Dutch VVD Member of Parliament Harry Bevers is temporarily stepping down from his duties after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. The party announced the diagnosis on Wednesday, noting that ...

Jehovah’s Witnesses now allowed to use their own blood in medical procedures. Is it of any use to them?

Jehovah's Witnesses have updated their policy to allow members to store and use their own blood for planned medical procedures, a shift from their previous total ban on blood transfusions. The change ...

Marathon will no longer return to the city center

The Amsterdam Marathon will not return to the city center after a safety study by local authorities concluded the area is too vulnerable for 45,000 participants. While organizers hoped to route the ra...

Lars (16) and Julia (18) dropped out like 70,000 others: bullying, fear of failure and large classes drive children out of school

Approximately 70,000 children and young people in the Netherlands drop out of school annually due to issues like bullying, anxiety, and large class sizes. Despite being a long-standing problem, a solu...

Better to catch it early: these 10 warning signs could point to cancer

Oncologists in the Netherlands are urging the public to take potential cancer warning signs seriously and consult a general practitioner without hesitation. Early detection remains crucial as cancer i...

Simon Russell Beale forced to stop acting due to bowel cancer

British actor Simon Russell Beale has been diagnosed with colon cancer. As a result, he stepped away from his professional work last September.

Man rescued from water at the Nieuwe Gracht in Haarlem

A man was rescued from the water at the Nieuwe Gracht in Haarlem during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. The cause of how he ended up in the water remains unknown.

Actor Sam Neill declared cancer-free after successful treatment: 'Very happy'

Actor Sam Neill has been declared cancer-free following a successful course of immunotherapy for blood cancer. The 78-year-old actor transitioned to this treatment after chemotherapy proved ineffectiv...