Far fewer people have died so far this winter than during the same period last year,
according to the national statistics office CBS. The decrease in mortality was sharpest among people over 80 years old.

In total, 32,500 people died in the Netherlands between the first week of December and the second week of February, 2,500 fewer than last winter.

Last year, there was a 21-week long flu epidemic, the longest since records began in 1970. Periods of flu epidemics coincide with an increase in mortality.

Weather

In many parts of the Netherlands, winter this year has been warmer than average, according to the KNMI weather bureau.

While winter cold has traditionally been associated with higher death rates, a recent study found this is not the case in Northern Europe any more.

Instead, the study found that varying influenza rates are the deciding factor in a year-to-year variation in deaths.