The Dutch are walking more than they did before the coronavirus pandemic, with the distance travelled by foot every day up by some 33%, according to figures from mobility institute KIM.

By 2023, the Dutch were walking an average of 1.1 kilometres a day, up a third on 2019, the KIM said. And 35% of the time the Dutch leave home is to go for a walk, compared with 26% in 2018.

The difference is particularly strong in urban areas, where people are more likely to walk and for longer, the agency said. In the countryside, shops and other facilities are often further away, prompting people to go by car or use a bike.

The over-70s are most likely to go about their business on foot, as are children under the age of 12. Youngsters aged 12 to 17 are least likely to walk.

Researcher Mathijs de Haas says the coronavirus pandemic is responsible for the increase in walking. “During lockdowns people were more or less confined to their homes,” he told the AD. “But in order to have something to do, they would go for a walk.”

Two years on, walking would now appear to have become a habit, he said.

Brain expert Erik Scherder told the AD that walking 20 minutes a day is good for the brain, heart and arteries. It also helps against stress and depression and stimulates creativity.

Nevertheless, despite the increase in walking, figures from public health institute RIVM show the Dutch are cycling less and only 44% of the population take enough exercise. “The bottom line is,” he said, “are we taking more exercise on balance?”