All Dutch citizens are invited, at a certain point in their lives, to participate in one of the national screening programmes. The State initiates, sets up and finances three cancer and five prenatal and neonatal population screening programmes. The RIVM Centre for Population Screening (RIVM-CvB) directs and manages the National Population Screening Programme on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

The majority of pregnancies are problem-free. Fortunately, most children come into the world in perfect health. Screenings during pregnancy and shortly after birth can identify any complications, diseases or disorders at an early stage, whereupon treatment can be offered. A screening during pregnancy is termed ‘prenatal’; that after birth is termed ‘postnatal’ and together they are known as ‘perinatal’ screenings.