Health News in English
Latest health headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Philip Morris tobacco shops illegally promote heated tobacco as healthier alternative to cigarettes
An undercover investigation by the journalistic platform Pointer revealed that tobacco shops supported by Philip Morris are illegally promoting heated tobacco as a healthier alternative to traditional...
Eva wants care sector to look at disability differently: ‘Let someone struggle sometimes’
Eva Eikhout, a presenter and healthcare innovation ambassador for VGZ who was born without full limbs, is advocating for a shift in how the healthcare sector views disabilities. She emphasizes the imp...
Drug use remains a risk for TBS patients despite positive steps toward sheltered housing
The North Holland District Court has extended the mandatory psychiatric treatment (TBS) of 38-year-old J.H. for an additional two years due to ongoing risks associated with drug use. Originally senten...
Will the future of Spaarne Gasthuis still play a role in the elections? ‘I haven’t followed the discussion and honestly didn’t know’
On election day, voters at the Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem-Zuid are reflecting on whether the potential relocation of the hospital's emergency department to Hoofddorp affects their voting choices. Whi...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Man (81) with Alzheimer's turned away from polling station, wife not allowed to help
An 81-year-old man with Alzheimer's was turned away from a polling station in Bruinisse because he was unable to cast his vote independently. During the 2026 municipal elections, his wife was not perm...
RIVM: flu epidemic over
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has announced that the flu epidemic is officially over. This decision follows a significant decline in GP visits for acute res...
Seriously ill within hours: why bacterial meningitis can be so dangerous
Neurologist Matthijs Brouwer explains that while viral meningitis is often manageable at home, the bacterial form is a life-threatening condition that can cause severe illness within hours. The articl...
Hay fever symptoms decrease after weeks of rising
The number of people visiting doctors with hay fever symptoms in the Netherlands decreased last week after several weeks of increases. According to research institute Nivel, there were 145 cases per 1...
Belgian prosecution demands five years in prison in Funcaps appeal
The Belgian Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded five-year prison sentences on appeal for the owners of the website Funcaps for trafficking illegal medicines. This follows a previous ruling in Mech...
'Sometimes you think you are breaking your parents' cycle, only to find the same patterns repeating.' Paul Kroes (69) wrote a book on how generations pass on trauma
Haarlem-based author Paul Kroes has released his latest book, "Vader, zoon, engel," which explores the complexities of family ties and intergenerational trauma. The work blends autobiography and ficti...
Prosecutors demand mandatory psychiatric treatment for killing woman in Amsterdam
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has demanded TBS with compulsory psychiatric treatment for 33-year-old Khalid A. for the brutal killing of a woman in Amsterdam-West in February 2023. The suspect ...
Jacob de Greeuw celebrates 25 years of ‘Pergola’ with Johan: ‘Why not also cry to music?’
Jacob de Greeuw is celebrating the 25th anniversary of 'Pergola', a landmark album by his band Johan that was written in Hoorn during a period of personal depression. The record is widely regarded as ...
New residential care facility Het Overboshuis opens in Hoofddorp: ‘Immediate positive feeling, and my father's parrot can live here too’
Alderman Charlotte van der Meij has officially opened Het Overboshuis, a new small-scale residential care facility for people with dementia in Hoofddorp. The home provides space for 22 residents and i...
Snack vegetables with pesticides: how unhealthy is that?
A study conducted by the Pesticide Action Network Netherlands for the consumer program Kassa found pesticide residues in 11 out of 20 tested snack vegetables. The article addresses health concerns for...
Amsterdam sewage contains highest levels of ketamine and MDMA in Europe
Medical cannabis not the miracle cure it seemed to be
A study published in the medical journal The Lancet concludes that medicinal cannabis is not effective in treating mental health issues. The research challenges previous beliefs about the drug's thera...
Argentina officially withdraws from World Health Organization
Argentina has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) following the completion of a formal cooling-off period. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno announced the departure, confirming t...
Menstrual symptoms are ‘pure biology’: Nijmegen study maps impact of hormonal fluctuations on the brain
Research from Nijmegen indicates that menstrual complaints are biological rather than psychological, caused by hormonal fluctuations affecting the brain. These changes in the brain can lead to physica...
Child rushed to hospital after car accident in Haarlem
Two children were involved in a car accident on Tuesday afternoon on Florence Nightingalestraat in Haarlem. One child was subsequently rushed to the hospital with urgent injuries.
Prosecutors seek 15 months in prison for threatening singer Douwe Bob
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has demanded a 15-month prison sentence against a 39-year-old man for threatening singer Douwe Bob. The threats were made after the singer withdrew from a performa...
UK faces ‘unprecedented’ meningitis outbreak
British authorities are managing an "unprecedented" meningitis outbreak linked to a nightclub in Canterbury, Kent. At least two young people have died and several others have been hospitalized as the ...
UN: Food shortages threaten millions due to Iran war
The UN's World Food Programme warns that tens of millions of people worldwide could face life-threatening hunger if the war involving Iran continues until June. This alert highlights the severe global...
UN calls for investigation into deadly Kabul hospital explosion
The United Nations human rights branch has called for an independent and transparent investigation into a deadly incident at an addiction care hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to local author...
Do you enjoy afternoon naps? How they could be making you sleep worse at night
Somnologist Manu Sastry explores the effects of afternoon napping on overall sleep health in this series about common sleep problems. The article specifically addresses how sleeping during the day may...
What if your child is afraid of death?
This article provides advice on how parents can address a child's fear of death, which may manifest as sleep problems or excessive questioning. Experts suggest that such anxieties in children often st...
Can this TikTok trend really boost your confidence? Expert is skeptical: ‘No miracle cure’
A popular TikTok trend involving mirror affirmations is being evaluated by psychology professor Filip Raes, who warns that it is not a miracle cure for low self-esteem. While the trend suggests that r...
Clara Wichmann appeals against breast implant manufacturer
The women's rights organization Bureau Clara Wichmann is appealing a court decision that cleared American manufacturer Allergan of liability for illnesses caused by its breast implants. This follows a...
Couple finds dead mouse in bag of Jumbo green beans: 'Incredibly nauseous'
A Rotterdam couple discovered a dead mouse inside a bag of frozen green beans purchased from a Jumbo supermarket. The supermarket chain confirmed the incident after it was initially reported by Dutch ...
Toy manufacturer recalls magnetic building set over safety risks
Toy manufacturer Selecta Spel en Hobby has issued a recall for a magnetic building set sold at Kruidvat and Trekpleister stores. The recall was prompted by safety risks involving magnets that can come...
Fred Postma (1954-2026): 'Mr. Haarlems Dagblad' and unpretentious jack-of-all-trades with a passion for sports
Fred Postma, a prominent figure in Haarlem known for his work with Haarlems Dagblad and his passion for sports, has passed away at age 71 in Southern Spain. His death occurred shortly after a diagnosi...