Health

The Netherlands has recorded its seventh very hot day of the year, matching the 2020 record. Temperatures passed 35°C in Limburg, highlighting how extreme heat days are becoming increasingly common due to climate warming.

More than 42,000 walkers completed the challenging third day of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, while three participants were disqualified. The final day will be warm and festive, ending on the Via Gladiola.

Foodwatch is calling on Efteling to end its unlimited soft drink refill system, arguing it encourages excessive sugar intake. Efteling says visitors can also choose sugar-free drinks or water and regrets that Foodwatch did not reach out directly.

Individuals with a tumour in or near the pancreas, together with their loved ones, are invited to a free peer‑support meeting on 5 September 2026 at Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven. Healthcare professionals and patient experts will share practical insights on treatment, recovery and life after pancreatic cancer, with space for questions and personal exchange.

Dutch healthcare institute Nivel has reported a significant rise in childhood impetigo cases, with GP visits tracking well above rates from previous years. Health experts link the highly contagious bacterial skin infection to recent summer heatwaves, which allow the bacteria to spread rapidly during outdoor play. While weekly cases dropped slightly in the latest reporting period, overall numbers remain elevated across the country.

This year, almost 2,100 women are walking the longest distance of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches—a share that continues to grow. With walkers ranging from age 11 to 81 and participants from 77 nationalities, the event remains one of the Netherlands’ most diverse and celebrated walking traditions.

More than 3,500 people died during last week’s extreme heat in the Netherlands, according to RIVM. Mortality was around 480 deaths higher than expected, mainly among people aged 80 and older, with the largest impact in the east and south of the country.

A historic June heatwave has pushed Dutch healthcare services into overdrive, generating a record volume of heat-related general practitioner visits that doubled last year's figures. The severe conditions led meteorologists to issue an unprecedented code red warning across multiple provinces as temperatures in Limburg reached a record-breaking 39.4°C. Public health agencies continue to urge the public to safeguard vulnerable neighbors and children as communities adapt to increasingly volatile summer spikes.