On May 25, 2011, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) decided to implement a national population screening programme for colorectal cancer (CRC screening) . This decision was based on a recommendation given by the Health Council of the Netherlands (GR) and on data from a feasibility study carried out by the Centre for Population Screening (CvB) at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).