VanWonen becomes first area developer to sign national Health Declaration
News item, Healthiest Generations
Making a longer, healthier life possible for everyone in the Netherlands; that is at the heart of the Health Declaration that was signed by 58 organisations. This marks the start of a movement dedicated to prioritizing health nationwide. There is broad support for this within society: 75% of the population believes that health and well-being should be given higher priority in order to keep the Netherlands functioning and prosperous, according to research by Ipsos I&O. The initiative is important, as the number of years the Dutch spend in good health is declining.
The goal is ambitious: to ensure people enjoy a greater number of healthy years by 2040, rather than a decline. The organisations are aiming for a change that is just as impactful as the introduction of clean drinking water, vaccinations and sewage systems once were. To date, more than 50 organisations have joined the movement, with broad representation from civil society organisations, local governments and the business community.
Role for area developers
Area developer VanWonen has also signed the declaration, the first in the sector to do so. Miranda Venekamp-Brandt, Director of Marketing, Sales & Rental Operations at VanWonen:
“With full conviction, we have signed today. Together with more than 50 other organisations, we are striving to ensure that by 2040, health is firmly embedded in policy, the economy and everyday life. The goal is to make healthy living a natural choice for everyone, supported by an environment that actively encourages this. As an area developer, we have made a conscious decision to actively contribute to this. We do this by purposefully investing in green and healthy neighbourhoods and districts. These environments encourage greater physical activity and sports, social interaction and relaxation. We are transforming residential areas into healthier places, providing more space for sustainable, clean transportation, safe cycling paths, healthy schools and housing that enhances wellbeing.”
Organisations take the lead
The group of organisations signing the Health Declaration is leading the way in the pursuit of better public health. Instead of waiting for national politics, they are taking the matter into their own hands by developing concrete plans for a healthier country. The plans will be presented at the first National Health Summit in Groningen at the end of 2026. The initiators expect more organisations to sign up.
About this initiative
This initiative is being coordinated by the Association of Collaborating Health Funds (in Dutch: Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen), a collective of 23 health funds, and is being co-organised by the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health. Read the press release issued by the Association of Collaborating Health Funds here.
