More than half a million people in the Netherlands are living with heart failure, but many remain unaware of their condition, health officials warned during National Heart Failure Week.
According to the Hartstichting, over 500,000 individuals in the country have heart failure, often without knowing it. The Flevoziekenhuis reported that one in four Dutch residents will develop the condition at some point in their lives, yet more than 255,000 people currently do not realize they are affected.
Symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swollen ankles are frequently dismissed as signs of aging or stress, delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of serious complications. Cardiologist Niels Wijkstra of the Flevoziekenhuis explained that patients often adapt unconsciously by reducing their activity levels, which masks the worsening of their condition.
“They take their symptoms less seriously and gradually adjust by doing less,” Wijkstra said. “But recognizing these signals early is vital — timely diagnosis can prevent hospitalizations and premature death.”
During the awareness campaign, which ran from April 21 to 28, 2026, hospitals across the Netherlands organized events to improve public understanding. In Enschede, the Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) hosted a heart failure café at its Thorax Centrum Twente, offering patients and families the chance to learn about the disease and available care.
“It’s an opportunity for patients, their loved ones, and others to come to the hospital for an educational evening on heart failure, so awareness continues to grow,” said Mieke van den Heuvel, a cardiologist at MST.
The Flevoziekenhuis in Almere set up an information stand in its central hall on April 22, where visitors could have their blood pressure and grip strength measured, take part in a knowledge quiz, and receive advice on nutrition and physical activity from dietetics and physiotherapy teams.
Health officials emphasized that daily, an average of 22 people in the Netherlands die from heart failure. The condition occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively, reducing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscles, and organs.
“When the heart fails to circulate blood properly, tissues and organs receive less oxygen and fuel, impairing their function and leading to symptoms,” van den Heuvel explained.
Efforts to detect heart failure earlier include routine blood pressure checks and greater attention to subtle warning signs. The Hartstichting noted that more than half of the Dutch population does not know that heart failure can be fatal, underscoring the need for continued education.
