General practitioners Stefan van Rooijen and Alja Sluiter from Asten are suing the Dutch government for insufficient action against youth vaping and unhealthy diets, citing a rise in obesity and diabetes among children as young as eight. They plan to present ten proposals, including school cooking classes, to Health Minister Sophie Hermans. Meanwhile, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk criticized media coverage after the World Cup, stating he felt undervalued domestically compared to abroad. He confirmed his intention to continue playing until at least the 2028 European Championship following a conversation with coach Xavi Hernández. Other stories include a severe shortage of parking spots for truck drivers in Brabant and Limburg, entertainer Johan Vlemmix working on a new version of his hit song 'Hyves is Hyves,' and journalist Eva de Schipper’s podcast investigating child abuse by swim instructor Benno L.
Boy Tanis, a 19-year-old from Geertruidenberg, has collected over 18,000 signatures for a petition against smoking influencers on social media and intends to present it to the Dutch House of Representatives. Inspired by his own struggle with smoking triggered by social media exposure, Tanis seeks warnings or campaigns regarding images of smokers, having previously won the Clean Air Netherlands Smoke-Free Prize 2026 for his efforts.
In Rotterdam, a mobile liver scanning initiative has attracted long queues as it offers free scans to detect fatty liver disease, which affects approximately one-third of Dutch adults often without symptoms. Early results from the 'liver bus' identified several individuals with excess fat or scar tissue, prompting urgent advice to consult general practitioners to prevent progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Internist Manuel Castro Cabezas explains that lifestyle factors like obesity and diabetes are now primary drivers of these issues, which can be reversed through weight loss if caught early. Although the project highlights rising health concerns among minors with poor diets, organizers clarify that this is not a population screening program but rather an awareness tour by the European Liver Patients Association.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute a physician who ended the life of a severely ill toddler last year, following a commission's ruling that the doctor acted carefully. This decision marks the first application of Netherlands' 2024 regulation allowing life termination for children aged one to twelve suffering unbearable and hopeless pain. The treating physician expressed relief, hoping the verdict supports other parents in similar situations and views the policy as a form of emancipation for children. Pediatrician Eduard Verhagen welcomed the outcome but urged faster processing times to reduce uncertainty for families.
British singer Michael Kiwanuka announced on Instagram that he suffered a severe brain hemorrhage a few months ago, requiring extensive rehabilitation. The health issue caused him to cancel multiple shows in the US and Europe in July, including appearances at Pukkelpop and Sziget festivals. Despite these limitations preventing new music production for now, Kiwanuka revealed his fifth studio album, FUDGE, expressing hope for recovery while acknowledging the difficult road ahead.
Water expert Roberta Hofman advises against using home filters to remove PFAS from tap water, noting that while filters can extract the chemicals, the resulting water is not safe or advisable to drink despite exceeding RIVM guidelines.
Greenpeace reported that parts of western Netherlands contain more PFAS in drinking water than the RIVM advises, but drinkwater specialist Roberta Hofman argues against home filtration. She states that commercial filters are ineffective because they lack sufficient activated carbon capacity and quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. Reverse osmosis systems are also criticized for wasting water and removing essential minerals. Hofman emphasizes that water companies are already working to remove these substances and suggests that total bans on PFAS are the only real solution, advising the public to continue drinking tap water without filtering.
In 2020, Heleen de Kroon (71) did not wake up properly from anesthesia after heart surgery and remained unconscious for nine weeks. She is single, has two daughters aged 49 and 46, and is now retired.
Dutch general practitioners Stefan van Rooijen and Alja Sluiter are suing the government for failing to protect children's health amid a vape epidemic and unhealthy food options. They have invited Health Minister Sophie Hermans to discuss a ten-point plan, including cooking lessons in schools and stricter vape regulations, which has garnered over 1,000 signatures. The doctors argue that current measures are insufficient compared to the billions spent on healthcare and call for a comprehensive generational plan to address rising obesity and diabetes among youth.
Recent statistics from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that three in ten people experience loneliness, including young adults like Maud and Matthijs despite having social networks. Tila Pronk, a senior lecturer in social psychology at Tilburg University, attributes this trend to pandemic-related isolation and a preference for digital communication over physical interaction. She warns that avoiding face-to-face contact harms mental health and advocates for relationship education in schools to help youth build deeper connections.
Theater maker Karlijn Kistemaker uses her dryly comedic play 'Buikzwam' to address endometriosis, a condition affecting half a million Dutch women. After a successful 2024 run, the second tour highlights the diagnostic delay of over seven years. Kistemaker shares her personal experience of waiting twenty-four years for a diagnosis, using light packaging to deliver a heavy message about symptoms like excessive bleeding and pain. The play aims to reduce the uncertainty surrounding the disease by making it a public topic.
At least six hospitals in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Texas have agreed to stop providing gender-affirming care to minors and pay fines under deals with the Trump administration. These agreements aim to resolve Department of Justice investigations into alleged billing fraud and avoid long-term legal proceedings. While medical associations support such treatments for youth with gender dysphoria, the administration argues the risks outweigh benefits. Critics contend the government is using financial pressure to halt legally permitted care, while transgender military personnel face separate exclusion policies.
More Europeans are playing sports and doing so more often than four years ago. However, disparities remain across countries, from how regularly people play sports to how well their cities support active living.
At least six large hospitals in the United States have agreed to stop providing gender-affirming care for minors following pressure from the Trump administration, which threatened to withhold federal subsidies. The settlements involve institutions in states like New York and Pennsylvania, marking a victory for President Donald Trump’s policy stance that potential harms outweigh benefits. Meanwhile, Republican Senator John Curtis has called for an investigation into whether the Trump family profits from his presidency, citing concerns over business activities involving his son, Donald Trump Jr., including cryptocurrency promotions and real estate deals with foreign leaders.
In the Netherlands, 88 horses have been officially confirmed with West Nile virus this year, a significant increase from three cases in 2025. The infection has spread across multiple provinces, starting with early August reports in South Holland. While vaccination reduces the risk of severe neurological symptoms, veterinary expert Vivianne van Leeuwen notes that expensive and slow testing delays may discourage reporting. Additionally, human infections have risen to 28, resulting in four deaths, prompting blood bank Sanquin to begin screening donations for the virus.
At least six hospitals in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut have settled with the Trump administration to cease adolescent gender clinics, paying fines and agreeing to end ongoing investigations. Since early 2025, the administration has exerted financial and legal pressure on providers in 24 states where treatments are permitted, leading many hospitals to stop care citing government pressure. While major medical organizations like the American Medical Association support maintaining these treatments, the settlements allow some facilities to treat former patients seeking to reverse transitions or address side effects. One Connecticut hospital agreed to keep its clinic closed for ten years and pay $60,000 in fines, while providing $500,000 for patients under 19 wishing to undo treatment effects.
Over a third of people in the Netherlands get tap water above RIVM health limits. Find out whether Dutch tap water is safe to drink and what PFAS means for you.
Most men would embrace contraception designed for them, such as on-demand pills taken before sex, a daily hormonal gel or a thermal silicone ring, but funding gaps are keeping these products years away from pharmacy shelves.
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