The Netherlands’ Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025: Working Together for Better Nutrition Care

Dates: November 10–14, 2025
National Partners: ONCA Netherlands & the Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding (Dutch Malnutrition Knowledge Centre)
More information: Week tegen Ondervoeding – Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding

As part of the European Malnutrition Awareness Week (MAW) 2025, The Netherlands will once again host its national campaign — the Week tegen Ondervoeding (Week Against Malnutrition), uniting healthcare professionals, researchers, and public stakeholders under one goal: to improve the recognition, prevention, and treatment of malnutrition across all care settings.

Led by ONCA Netherlands and the Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding, this year’s campaign continues to showcase innovative, evidence-based approaches to nutritional care, combining education, policy advocacy, and public engagement.

A Strong Evidence-Based Foundation

The Dutch campaign focuses on raising awareness among healthcare professionals and the public, sharing practical tools and insights that help to identify and manage malnutrition early, from hospitals to home care.

A highlight of this year’s campaign is the release of the infographic and report “Ondervoeding in de zorg: behandeling loont”, a health-economic analysis (A2M, 2024) showing that treating malnutrition saves billions in healthcare costs.

Complementing this, the Social Return on Investment (SROI) study “De waarde van zorg bij ondervoeding van kwetsbare ouderen” demonstrates that every €1 invested in nutrition care for vulnerable older adults generates €3.27 in social value over five years.

These findings underline a clear message: investing in nutrition care pays off — for patients, healthcare systems, and society.

Campaign Materials and Tools

To support awareness and action, a wide range of freely downloadable materials are available on the campaign website, including:

1. Factsheets on managing malnutrition in

   • children with disease,

   • adults with disease, and

   • (vulnerable) older adults.

2. “Goed gevoed ouder worden” (Ageing Well Nourished) materials — a full awareness package with 8 themed messages and visuals for older adults, families, and care professionals.

3. A signalling card for volunteers and professionals in social and community care.

4. Campaign posters, flyers, and social media visuals supporting local awareness initiatives.

5. The official #WTO2025 logo, available in multiple formats.

All resources are available for free download and use via the Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding website.

Highlights and Local Activities

Throughout the week, dozens of partners across The Netherlands will participate in creative, interactive activities promoting good nutrition and awareness of malnutrition:

• Podcasts, such as I’m a Foodie with Jaap Seidell, NESPEN, and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, discussing nutrition and health.

• Workshops and symposia, including MST Voedingsteam’s session on tube feeding and Dietitians’ Coalition Rotterdam’s interactive “Goed Gevoed Ouder Worden” workshop at FitFestival.

• Webinars hosted by the Voedingscentrum for professionals and the public.

• Information stands in hospitals offering high-protein snacks, handgrip tests, and quizzes to engage staff and visitors.

• Videos and educational films, such as

  • “Waarom horen goed eten en bewegen bij elkaar” (Nutrition & Exercise Together),

  • “Ondervoeding en de rol van de diëtist in de eerste lijn” (by NVD & LWDO), and

  • “Eiwitrijke voeding” (Protein-rich diet video by Nij Smellinghe Hospital).

• Articles and media features from partners such as Nationaal Fonds tegen Kanker.

• Student initiatives, including

  • Medical Nutrition Market by Hanze University,

  • collaborative student case work on malnutrition, and

  • Interprofessional collaboration events at InHolland University.

• (High-protein) lunches and demos, such as Dietheek’s recipes for healthcare professionals.

Additionally, many partner organisations, from ANBO-PCOB (elderly associations) to ZonMW, V&VN, and food manufacturers, will join the national conversation with dedicated posts and materials on social media.

Inspiration Beyond the Week

The Dutch campaign encourages continued learning and collaboration throughout the year.
Organisers have made all #WTO2025 materials, inspiration posts, and best practices available to support professionals and organisations in raising awareness beyond November.

A Model for Integrated Action

With strong coordination by the Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding, multidisciplinary collaboration, and robust evidence on the impact of nutrition care, The Netherlands’ Week Against Malnutrition stands as a leading example of how national initiatives can translate scientific knowledge into real-world health improvement.

Through creative engagement, professional education, and policy advocacy, the Dutch campaign demonstrates the power of working together for better nutrition care, a cornerstone of the shared European effort led by ENHA and ONCA.

Learn more and download materials:
👉 Week tegen Ondervoeding 2025 – Kenniscentrum Ondervoeding

Follow and share:
#WTO2025 #ONCANetherlands #MAW2025 #NetherlandsMAW2025 #MalnutritionAwarenessWeek to join the conversation and spread the message across social media.