Encouraging people in the Netherlands to be more physical active requires a structural, long-term physical activity policy that is not linked to a particular government term or short-term program. This is the conclusion of the RIVM in an interim evaluation of Nederland Beweegt, the Dutch Action Plan on Physical Activity. Achieving system changes that can eventually lead to more physical activity is a long-term process. The Action Plan is an important first step, and a number of positive developments can be observed.
The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport wants to make it easier for people to be more active every day. Among other things, this requires changes in the living environment, such as providing enough safe cycling paths and playgrounds, but also cooperation with parties in healthcare, education or in the workplace, from the local to the national level. To achieve this, the Ministry has created the Nederland Beweegt Action Plan, which will run from 2023 to 2025. This policy differs from previous policies as it takes a system approach, addressing all aspects of physical activity rather than focusing on a single component like sports.
More focus and cooperation
RIVM is monitoring the progress of the Action Plan. This first report shows what has been accomplished in the first 1.5 years. It is unrealistic to expect measurable changes in the physical activity behaviour of the population so quickly after the start of the Action Plan, but some positive developments can be observed. For example, policymakers at the ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and community organisations are now devoting more attention to physical activity, and both national and local parties from different domains are now working together more closely to promote physical activity through the living environment. RIVM advises continued investment in cross-domain collaboration and the concrete implementation of policies related to physical activity.
Turning plans into action
In one year, three times as many parties joined the Beweegalliantie (Physical Activity Network Alliance), bringing the total to more than 400. This has led to 21 collaborations, primarily in the domain of education, healthcare and the workplace. Furthermore, local initiatives on physical activity are being supported in various ways. One example of this is the Regioaanpak Beweeg V(MB)O. In this project, a number of pre-vocational and senior secondary vocational education institutions in the Rijnmond and Haaglanden regions are working to promote physical activity in and around their locations. In general, it is important that parties turn their plans to encourage physical activity into specific actions, and that they exchange knowledge on what works and what does not. RIVM recommends that the policy as described in the Action Plan be extended past 2025.
Conclusions comparable to other reports
The conclusions of this report are comparable to other recent RIVM reports, such as the first report on the Healthy and Active Living Agreement (Gezond en Actief Leven Akkoord, GALA) and the newest Public Health Foresight Study. Those reports also noted the necessity of a structural, long-term policy to enact change.
RIVM will contlinue to monitor the progress of the Nederland Beweegt Action Plan. The publication of the final report is planned for December 2025.