In the Netherlands, a vaccination against measles has been offered through the National Immunisation Programme since 1976. Since then, the number of cases of measles has been low. A larger outbreak occurs in the Netherlands about once every 10–15 years. This is because there are groups who decline vaccination. The most recent major outbreak of measles in the Netherlands was in 2013-2014. Since last year, the number of people in Europe infected with the measles virus has been rising.
Update 3 December 2025
Since the previous update (5 November 2025), RIVM has received 12 new reports of measles. These involve a family cluster, a cluster at a primary school and several reported cases that are unrelated. In total, 538 cases of measles have been reported by Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) in various regions of the Netherlands so far in 2025. There is no national outbreak at this time.
RIVM will be posting the next update on measles on Wednesday, 7 January 2026
People contract measles in other countries
In 2025, there have been 62 reported patients in the Netherlands involving people who contracted the disease abroad:
- 39 in Morocco
- 4 in Greece
- 4 in Romania
- 2 in Vietnam
- 2 in Turkey
- 3 in Belgium
- 1 in Iran
- 1 in Uganda
- 1 in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- 1 in China
- 1 in Malaysia
- 1 in France
- 1 in Somalia
- 1 in Italy
No national outbreak
The smaller groups of people (clusters) who have contracted measles are not connected to each other. That is why it is not considered a national outbreak. The clusters are emerging at various locations across the country and are caused by new introductions of the virus to the Netherlands.
This has also been confirmed by examination of the virus, including genetic testing. People in the same cluster have almost exactly the same strain of the measles virus. Looking at the different clusters in the Netherlands, it is clear that each cluster involves a distinct strain of the measles virus. This means that the clusters are not connected, and the virus is entering the Netherlands repeatedly.
What should I do if I think that my child has measles?
It is important to prevent measles from spreading. Some people have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from measles. This includes babies, young children, pregnant people and people with impaired immunity. Measles is very contagious, so please follow these recommendations:
- If your child is ill, keep your child at home!
- Do you think your child might have measles? Or does your child have a spotty rash? Keep your child home up to and including 4 days after the spots appear. Call the GP (general practitioner) if you suspect that your child has measles. Do not go to the GP practice.
- If your child has brothers and sisters who have not been vaccinated and have not had measles before, keep those children home too. Do not let them play with their friends.
- Do not visit other people and do not receive visitors in your home. This also applies to your family and friends.
- If you (or your child) are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles, then stay away from young babies, pregnant people, and people with impaired immunity.
Vaccination against measles
Would you like to protect your children against measles? Have your children vaccinated according to the schedule of the National Immunisation Programme. If your child missed the vaccinations scheduled for those ages, contact the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD) or Centre for Youth and Family in your area, so you can get your child vaccinated.
Early vaccination for children under 14 months before travelling to areas where measles is common
In the Netherlands, children receive their first vaccination against measles (the MMR vaccination) at the age of 14 months. In exceptional situations, it is possible to get the MMR vaccination sooner, for example if you are planning to travel to a country where measles is common. The National Immunisation Programme posts a list (in Dutch) of countries for which children can receive the MMR vaccination early.
Would you like to know if this is advisable for you or your child? Discuss your planned trip with the well-baby clinic, the Centre for Youth and Family, or a travellers advice clinic.
It is also important for unprotected adults to get vaccinated before travelling to a country where there are many people who have measles. By getting vaccinated, people protect themselves and lower the risk that they will bring the disease with them to the Netherlands and spread it in the area where they live. Adults who are not yet vaccinated and were born after 1965 can contact the travellers advice clinic.
Reported cases of measles by month
The figure below shows reported cases of measles per month since January 2023. Case numbers are based on the available data up to 4 November 2025, and may still rise as reports come in. Case numbers from previous months may also still rise. This is because some reports are only received later.
Reported cases of measles, 1976–2024
The figure below shows reported cases of measles per year since 1976. The measles vaccine has been included in the National Immunisation Programme since 1976. Since it was introduced, there has been a very clear decrease in reported cases of measles, but a measles outbreak has occurred every 10–14 years. These major outbreaks primarily occur in areas with low vaccination coverage. The number of reported cases are significantly lower than the number of people who contract measles during a major outbreak. About 10% (1 in 10) infections were reported in the outbreak in 2013-2014.