DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

7 July 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Two thirds of healthy lifestyle targets are missed, more kids are overweight

July 6, 2021
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Three years after 70 groups from across the food, sports, health and education sectors signed an agreement with the government to get the Dutch population to adopt more healthy lifestyles, most of the targets have been missed, according to an evaluation by public health body RIVM.

The agreement sets out a string of ambitions on obesity, smoking and exercise to reach by 2040, with intermediate annual targets. Of the 39 targets which should have been reached by 2020, just 13 were accomplished, of which nine related to tobacco, the RIVM said.

For example, tobacco taxes have gone up, pension funds have cut back on their investments in tobacco and fewer youngsters are likely to start smoking.

By contrast, the number of children aged four to 18 who are overweight has actually increased by 1.5 percentage point to 14.9% and there has been no change in the number of overweight adults. Just 40% of school canteens are servicing healthy food – when the target was 50%.

However, the number of adults who are drinking too much has gone down from 8.5% to 6.9%, although that may be due to coronavirus and the closure of cafes and clubs.

More effort

The RIVM says that more needs to be done to tackle excessive drinking and obesity in particular. The introduction of a tax on sugar and a minimum price for alcohol are among the options which have been used elsewhere, RIVM researcher Anoukh van Giessen told broadcaster NOS.

Junior health minister Paul Blokhuis, who is in charge of the agreement from the government side, said that it would be up to the next cabinet to push more measures through.

He earlier rejected the idea of a tax on sugar.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Netherlands 3-0 Wales: Miedema ton up as Oranje overpower Wales
Cricket: Edwards leads the way as Dutch secure win over Jersey
Council scraps home for 14 girl refugees after violent protests
Podcast: The Eternal Sunshine of the Forever Chemicals Edition
Mixed weather ahead as summer warmth takes a break
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now