While Bonaire residents consider the island a lovely and pleasant place to live, pollution and its effects on health need to be addressed. Residents are most concerned about the ever-increasing amounts of waste and fires at the Lagun landfill site. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), measures to improve this situation are urgently required. RIVM also recommends taking measurements in and around the landfill site and assessing the health of local residents.

Los habitantes de Bonaire consideran que la isla es un lugar hermoso y agradable para vivir, pero necesitan que se tomen medidas para combatir la contaminación y sus efectos sobre la salud. Las principales preocupaciones tienen que ver con la creciente montaña de residuos y los incendios en el vertedero de Lagun. Según el RIVM, es importante tomar medidas a corto plazo en dicho lugar para mejorar la situación. El RIVM recomienda además realizar mediciones en los alrededores del vertedero y evaluar la salud de los vecinos de la zona.

Habitantenan di Boneiru ta haña e isla akí un lugá bunita i dushi pa biba, pero nan tin nesesidat di akshon pa kombatí kontaminashon i e efektonan ku esaki tin riba salú. E preokupashonnan mas grandi ta tokante e seru di shushi ku kada biaha ta bira mas grandi i tokante kandela na lèntfel Lagun. Segun RIVM ta importante pa tuma medida riba término kòrtiku pa mehorá e situashon. Banda di esaki RIVM ta konsehá pa hasi midimentu rònt di e sitio di depositá shushi i pa hasi inventarisashon di salú di e hendenan ku ta biba den bisindario.

A ban on cigarette filters could reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment, without any negative impact on smokers’ health. According to research by RIVM, there are no indications of additional environmental harm resulting from the absence of a filter.

Fifteen percent of people aged fifteen and older who play sports on a weekly basis and who in 2024 occasionally used a sports performance-enhancing product have experienced health problems due to the use of those products. This compares with just five percent in 2016. Among the people who experienced health issues, one in five sought medical advice. These figures were revealed in a study by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

On 1 April 2026, Professor Isabel Arends will take up her new position as Director-General (DG) of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). In so doing, she will take over from acting DG Sicco Louw who has headed the organisation since November 2025, following the departure of Hans Brug.

RIVM expects climate change to have increasingly severe adverse health impacts. In addition to taking every possible action to combat climate change, Dutch society will also need to adapt more effectively. As this change will take time, action must be taken without delay.

Figures from Tekenradar.nl show that in 2025, the Dutch reported the highest number of tick bites in five years. In recent weeks, the number of tick bites has been on the rise, and with it the risk of disease. That is why, during the ‘Week van de Teek’ (Tick Bite Prevention Week), RIVM is focusing on the rapid removal of ticks to prevent disease.

The average number of hours of maternity care received by a family has declined over the past few years. At the same time, the demand for maternity care appears to be increasing, partly due to shorter hospital admissions after giving birth. Particularly families in a vulnerable situation are receiving structurally less maternity care.