Cyclists visited emergency departments (EDs) more often last year than in the previous two years, according to new figures from VeiligheidNL. The safety knowledge centre estimates that nearly 81,000 cyclists were treated in EDs in 2025.
Of those patients, more than 14,000 suffered mild or severe brain injuries. VeiligheidNL says wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of fatal head injury by 71 per cent and the risk of severe head injury by 60 per cent. The organisation has therefore launched a campaign to encourage helmet use.
The number of cyclists with serious injuries has risen by almost a quarter over the past ten years. According to VeiligheidNL director Mijntje Bakker, a helmet can make a crucial difference. “A bone fracture heals, but brain damage often stays with you forever,” she said.
Figures published last week by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) showed that traffic fatalities increased in 2025. Cyclists formed the largest group among those killed. Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management Vincent Karremans said the rise was alarming. “That is why we are working on a new safety approach, in which we place extra emphasis on the value of wearing a bicycle helmet,” he said.
@anp |NEWS BRAINPORT
