Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Building health together — with common sense. That was the focus of the third edition of Festival Gezond Verstand. Hundreds of participants found inspiration to help initiatives grow. A lot is already happening in Zuid-Holland, and by improving connections, we can increase our collective impact.
From government and knowledge institutions to entrepreneurs, healthcare, community initiatives, growers, and farmers: the diversity in the room was significant. When moderator and Health & Wellbeing program manager Irene Voskamp-ter Borg asks who comes from which sector, she sees hands going up everywhere. “A beautifully diverse group to seek connection with,” she says at the start. That connection is essential for working toward a healthy food system, a healthy living environment, and resilient, vital residents.
“Zuid-Holland is one of the unhealthiest provinces,” says Deputy for Health & Wellbeing Mariëtte van Leeuwen. “Half of adults are overweight. Lifestyle-related diseases lead to high healthcare costs and absenteeism, and there are also large health disparities between population groups and regions. As a province, we want to help residents improve their health and reduce these health differences. Food is the best and most affordable medicine to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.”
It’s about taking action
Anne Koning, Deputy for Housing, emphasizes the importance of a healthy living environment: “When we talk about housing, it often focuses mainly on numbers. But it is equally important that we build healthily. With public spaces where people can play and meet each other, and with good facilities. And the great thing is: with the Healthy Design approach, these two aspects go hand in hand.”
Foto's: Provincie Zuid-Holland / Sander Foederer
