Health News in English
Latest health headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Lessons for the new board: "Don't let people get stuck in bureaucracy"
As Amsterdam prepares for a new city administration, residents and advocacy groups are urging the government to prioritize the human element over rigid bureaucracy. Critics point to the difficulties c...
Slightly more people drowned last year than the year before
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 250 Dutch citizens drowned last year, representing a slight increase from the 245 deaths recorded in 2024. This total is also higher than the five-year annua...
132 drownings in the Netherlands last year: urinating in canals can be fatal
A total of 132 people drowned in the Netherlands last year, consisting of 100 residents and 32 foreign nationals. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the majority of these drowning victims were...
Skyr is flying off the shelves, but is it actually better than regular quark?
Supermarkets in the Netherlands are facing shortages of the dairy product skyr due to a surge in demand driven by social media trends on Instagram and TikTok. Suppliers are currently struggling to kee...
Spaarne Gasthuis, Buurts and GGD demand more public transport, neighborhood teams and mold prevention: ‘That is what is needed’
The regional healthcare platform Sigra is calling on municipalities in the Haarlem area to invest in mold prevention for housing, expand neighborhood social teams, and upgrade public transport service...
Study: Surgery for children with appendicitis not always necessary
A study by Amsterdam UMC involving 300 children across 15 Dutch hospitals found that antibiotics can effectively treat simple appendicitis, potentially making surgery unnecessary. The research suggest...
UK repatriates 10 people for preventive hantavirus isolation
The UK Health Security Agency is repatriating ten British citizens from remote island territories, including passengers from the cruise ship m/v Hondius, for preventive isolation. This measure follows...
WHO chief: Work not yet finished after Hondius evacuation
The evacuation of the cruise ship Hondius following a deadly hantavirus outbreak has been completed. WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the organization's work regarding the incid...
Fillers can restore volume to your face, but what’s actually in them?
Doctor Marguerite van Randwijck explains the use of cosmetic fillers to restore facial volume, detailing how the treatments work and the substances involved. This guide is part of a series addressing ...
Ship doctors' association: Wear masks sooner on board
Arend Jansen, chairman of the Dutch Medical Nautical Society, suggests that face masks should be worn sooner on ships when respiratory infections are suspected. This recommendation follows a hantaviru...
Haarlem residents' healthcare costs rise for fourth year in a row
Residents of Haarlem spent nearly 510 million euros on healthcare in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of rising costs. According to data from Vektis, the five percent increase represents the ...
Jetten briefly in hospital after being stung while swimming
Dutch Premier Rob Jetten was briefly hospitalized on Bonaire on Tuesday morning after being stung by an unidentified creature while swimming. Jetten experienced an allergic reaction but did not sustai...
Virtual reality lets healthcare workers experience what it's like to have dementia
Healthcare workers at the Kennemerhart care center in Haarlem are using Virtual Reality technology to experience life from the perspective of a person with dementia. This immersive training, featured ...
Ryanair flight makes emergency landing at Schiphol after pilot falls ill
A Ryanair flight made an emergency landing at Schiphol Airport on Monday evening after a pilot became unwell. The airline confirmed the medical emergency on Tuesday, stating that it necessitated the u...
Bonnie Tyler still very ill after surgery but in stable condition
74-year-old Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler is in stable condition at a hospital in Portugal following surgery. Although she remains quite ill, her medical team expects her to make a full recovery.
Amsterdam makes progress in tackling housing crisis, but major challenges remain
Amsterdam is making progress in addressing its housing crisis by increasing the number of social housing units and reducing waiting times for applicants. Additionally, new measures have been implement...
RIVM: Passengers on first Hondius flight test negative for virus
All passengers from the Dutch cruise ship Hondius who arrived on the first repatriation flight have tested negative for the hantavirus. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RI...
The municipal bathhouse was an instrument of civilization (though things sometimes got quite uncivilized)
A century and a half ago, municipal bathhouses served as vital hygiene facilities for working-class residents who lacked private showers and running water. These institutions were considered tools for...
Walk of Life Warm-Up in Heemskerk: walking for connection and mental health: ‘A walk is the shortest path to a good conversation’
The Walk of Life Warming-Up initiative is organizing walks across the Netherlands, including Heemskerk, to promote mental health and social connection. Led locally by Fabienne Zwanenburg, the program ...
Dawn swimming at De Houtvaart. Outdoor pool opens season on Ascension Day
The historic Houtvaart outdoor swimming pool will begin its season on Ascension Day with an early morning "dew swimming" event. From 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM, visitors can enjoy the water for a special entr...
125 years of GGD: a special look behind the scenes
To celebrate its 125th anniversary, the GGD is organizing various behind-the-scenes tours to showcase different aspects of its public health work. These excursions include visits to addiction care fac...
What to do if you're a parent afraid of blood, needles, or your child's physical discomfort
This article addresses how parents can manage personal fears or phobias regarding blood, needles, and physical injuries when their child is hurt or unwell. It offers guidance for caregivers who strugg...
Tata Steel investigates whether more slag can be used in cement
Tata Steel is collaborating with a cement company to investigate incorporating more types of steel slag into construction materials to promote sustainability. This initiative aims to find alternative ...
Researchers discover: this ancient and dirt-cheap drug helps treat heart failure
Researchers have discovered that a low dose of the old, inexpensive drug digoxin significantly reduces hospital admissions for patients with heart failure. Although the medication had fallen out of co...
Prosecutors believe abuse suspect Joannes B. has more victims
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service expects that suspect Joannes B. may have more victims than the six currently identified, including an attempted rape at an Amsterdam daycare. B. will undergo evalu...
These four attachment styles determine how you handle relationships: ‘Unconsciously, you choose what you recognize from your childhood’
This article explores the four attachment styles that influence how individuals behave in romantic relationships and why they often repeat patterns from their childhood. It explains that gaining insig...
Abuse suspect Jan B.: ‘I also want to know what's wrong with me’
Comedian Paulien Cornelisse returns to theater after cancer diagnosis
Comedian Paulien Cornelisse will return to the theater this autumn with her show "Waar was ik gebleven" after taking a hiatus for medical reasons. She had previously canceled her summer 2024 tour foll...
Agreement on tackling EU medicine shortages
The European Parliament and EU member states have reached an agreement to facilitate the use of government funding for the production of essential medicines. This initiative is designed to address dru...
Forget that I forget everything
The text reflects on the paradoxical problem of forgetting that one is forgetting. The author expresses confusion over whether this constitutes one or two separate issues.