Overview
- National data cited by the Nationaal Huidfonds and Maastricht University show about 81,000 new cases of skin cancer and roughly 1,000 deaths in the Netherlands each year.
- Recent surveys report widespread risky behaviour with 56 percent of people sunburnt last summer and 37 percent using SPF30+ only sometimes or never, while outdoor workers report especially high burn rates.
- Dermatologists say sunscreen tested in labs is applied far more thickly than people use in real life, so its real protection can be much lower and the recommended prevention order is: avoid sun, wear protective clothing, then apply sunscreen.
- The municipality of Lelystad has begun practical measures to reduce exposure by installing free sunscreen dispensers at beaches, many outdoor sports clubs and at public events.
- Personal stories of early-onset disease and specialist warnings underline that better shade, clothing and workplace protection could lower future illness and that public campaigns and resources such as voorkomhuidkanker.nl are key next steps.