What do people in the Netherlands eat?

The Lifestyle Monitor (in Dutch) is one of the most important sources of national key figures on lifestyle, including on nutrition, for the State of Public Health and Healthcare in the Netherlands. Data on nutrition are collected through the CBS (Statistics Netherlands) Health Survey and the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey. Both studies are part of the Lifestyle Monitor and complement each other. Each year, the Lifestyle Monitor publishes new figures on a number of aspects of nutrition, such as the consumption of fruit, vegetables and fish.

The Dutch National Food Consumption Survey offers detailed insight into what people in the Netherlands eat and drink and when and where they do so. RIVM compares this to the Dutch dietary guidelines and nutritional standards of the Health Council of the Netherlands. Food consumption surveys have been carried out since 1987. The newest results are compared with the results from previous years. View these consumption data under What do people in the Netherlands eat? (in Dutch).

Nutritional status of the Netherlands

The goal of nutritional status research is to judge the amount of nutrients in the human body. This kind of research is needed if the intake of a nutrient cannot be measured accurately with food consumption research, such as in the case of salt. Another reason can be to confirm results from food consumption research, which can be necessary if the results show that there are possible nutrient deficiencies. View the results of nutritional status research.

Additional research into (micro)nutrients

Within the additional research into (micro)nutrients, the RIVM studies and advises on Dutch nutrition policy. This mainly concerns micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and trace elements). For example, this includes the evaluation of supplementation recommendations, as well as the mathematical substantiation of maximum levels for the fortification of foods. In addition, the RIVM conducts in-depth research to gain more insight into the intake, status, and health effects of nutrients. The aim is to assess whether current nutrition policy is effective and safe. Read more about the various studies.

Support for policy, the Health Council of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre

RIVM advises policymakers on how to achieve an optimal nutritional intake. We also advise on whether it is necessary to adjust legal amounts of substances in food products. Furthermore, RIVM provides support for the advisory reports compiled by the Health Council of the Netherlands, such as the Dutch dietary guidelines and the Wheel of Five of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. This way we contribute to healthy, safe and sustainable nutrition in the Netherlands.

Healthy, safe and sustainable

RIVM bundles existing knowledge on the health, safety and sustainability of the Dutch diet. One example of this is the 2017 report What’s on our plate? Safe, healthy and sustainable food in the Netherlands.

Dutch research in an international perspective

RIVM works with other European countries to improve its measurements of food consumption and nutritional intake in the Netherlands and compare them with those of other countries.

For research into nutrients or food products, researchers are often looking for the average intake over a longer period of time, for which RIVM has developed the statistical programme SPADE. RIVM is a collaborating centre for nutrition of the WHO. We support the WHO with matters such as research, method development and workshops. We study prices and sustainable nutrition as part of the projects FOODCoST and FutureFoods.