Life style; personal characteristics

Table explanation

Description topics

Physical activity, 4 years or older

The questions on physical activities were asked to every person aged 4 years or older, and are based upon the so-called ‘Short Questionnaire to Assess Health Enhancing Physical Activity’ (SQUASH). This questionnaire aims to provide a complete view of a person’s physical activity. Frequencies and durations of the following physical activities were asked for:
1. Commuting to work or school by cycle or on foot,
2. Activities at work or in school,
3. Housekeeping activities ,
4. Walking, cycling, gardening and doing odd jobs in spare time,
5. Practicing sports.
From 2017 onwards, Statistics Netherlands publishes the new physical activity guidelines (drawn up by the Dutch Health Council) for people aged 4 years or older.

In order to get a better understanding of the physical activity of young people of 12 years and older, questions relating to physical education were added to the questionnaire starting in 2019. This means that for all children, aged 12 or older attending secondary school, questions about sport and physical education and sport activities organized by school were added. For children from 4 till 12 years, these questions about physical education were already included in the questionnaire.

Because of this, data from 2019 onwards about complying physical activity guidelines are not comparable with data of 2016-2018, especially for young people from 12 years or older.

Physical activity guidelines

The physical activity guidelines were drawn up by the Dutch Health Council at the end of 2017. This new guideline replaces the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise, the norm for fitness and the combination norm. Adults should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least two and a half hours every week, spread over several days, such as walking and cycling. In addition, they should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least twice a week. Young people from 4 to 17 years old should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least one hour every day, and they should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least three times a week.
An explanatory note has been published about the 2020 figures on this subject, see table explanation.

Comply with physical activity guidelines

Percentage of people of 4 years or older who comply with the physical activity guidelines. Adults should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least two and a half hours every week, spread over several days, such as walking and cycling. In addition, they should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least twice a week. Young people from 4 to 17 years old should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least one hour every day, and they should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least three times a week.

In order to get a better understanding of the physical activity of young people of 12 years and older, questions relating to physical education were added to the questionnaire starting in 2019. This means that for all children, aged 12 or older attending secondary school, questions about sport and physical education and sport activities organized by school were added. For children from 4 till 12 years, these questions about physical education were already included in the questionnaire.

Because of this, data from 2019 onwards about complying physical activity guidelines are not comparable with data of 2016-2018, especially for young people from 12 years or older.

Sufficiently active moderate intensity

Percentage of people of 4 years or older who are sufficiently active at moderate intensity, such as walking and cycling. Persons aged 18 and over should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least two and a half hours every week, spread over several days. Young people between the ages of 4 and 17 should be physically active at moderate intensity for at least one hour every day.

Sufficient muscle-/bone-strength. activ.

Percentage of people aged 4 years or older who perform sufficient muscle- and bone-strengthening activities. Persons aged 18 and over should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least twice a week. Young people aged 4 to 17 should perform muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least three times a week.

Weekly sporter

Percentage of people of 4 years or older who practise sport at least once a week. From 2016 onwards, the percentage of weekly sporters aged 4 years or older is published.

An explanatory note has been published about the 2020 figures on this subject, see table explanation.

Subscription sports provider

The percentage of persons of 4 years or older that has a subscription to a fitness centre, swimming pool or another provider of sport.

Member sports club

The percentage of persons of 4 years or older that is member of a sports club.

Sexual health, 16 years or older

The questions on sexual health are asked to persons aged 16 years or older.

High risk sexual activity

Percentage of people aged 16 or older who have had high risk sexual activity. High risk sexual activity is defined as vaginal or anal sex without a condom with someone with whom one does not have a steady relationship.
Up to and including 2023, this concerned the last sexual contact. From 2024 onwards, it concerns sex in the past 12 months. The figures from 2024 onwards are therefore not comparable with the figures from previous years.

In the past 12 months

People aged 16 years or older who had high risk sexual activity in the past 12 months.

Last sexual contact

Percentage of people aged 16 or older who have had high risk sexual activity. This concerns the last sexual contact (which must have taken place in the past 12 months).

Giving informal care, 16 years or older

Informal care (in Dutch: mantelzorg) is care given to an acquaintance in ones surroundings, e.g. a partner, child or friend, if this person is sick for a long time, infirm or handicapped. Informal care can consist of doing housework, washing and dressing, companionship, transportation, arranging financial matters and so on. Informal care is not paid.

Informal care giver

Percentage of persons giving informal care. The informal care has lasted for at least three months already, or there must be at least 8 hours of care per week.

Hours of informal care per week

The average number of hours of care given per week, by an informal care giver.

Strained informal care givers

The percentage of informal care givers who report fairly heavily strained, very heavily strained or being overloaded by that care.