
NOS Nieuws•
Sports injuries are on the rise in the Netherlands, with an estimated 300,000 more cases reported in 2024. According to the knowledge center VeiligheidNL, roughly 4.6 million people sustained a total of 5.6 million injuries.
The increase is partly attributed to a growing number of people participating in sports. “That’s a positive trend, but it naturally leads to more injuries,” said Victor Zuidema, an injury prevention expert at VeiligheidNL. “Fortunately, most injuries aren’t severe, and many can be prevented by being more mindful when engaging in sports.”
Emergency Room Visits
However, the number of sports-related injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room is actually decreasing. “This is also due to a shift in the types of sports people are doing, such as brisk walking, fitness, or cycling,” Zuidema explained. “We’re seeing more participation in sports overall, but the risks are different.”
Zuidema views the decline in emergency room visits as a positive sign, noting it helps alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. “We’re also seeing a change in how injuries are treated, with more people opting for alternatives to the emergency room.”
The expert in injury prevention suggests that, in some cases, physical therapy is a more appropriate course of action than a trip to the hospital. “Ankle sprains, for example, can often be effectively treated with physical therapy rather than requiring emergency room care.” More serious injuries, such as broken bones, naturally require hospital attention.
The majority of athletes who end up in the emergency room are under the age of 18. “Parents are often quicker to take an injured child to the hospital than to seek treatment for their own injuries,” Zuidema said. “Younger people are also still developing their motor skills and tend to take more risks.”
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking carries the highest risk of resulting in an emergency room visit. Zuidema attributes this partly to the technical nature of the sport.
Troy Corsen, representing the Dutch Touring Cycling Federation (NTFU), agrees. “It’s due to the obstacles you encounter while mountain biking. But that’s also what makes it interesting.”
However, falls during mountain biking can lead to significant injuries. “The consequences can be serious if you fall at high speed. But with proper information and training, it can be a very safe sport.”
Color Codes
Corsen points out that the number of mountain bikers has doubled in the last ten years. He believes some of these newcomers may underestimate the challenges of the sport. “We live in a cycling country and assume everything is well-regulated. But mountain bike routes present obstacles that make things deliberately more difficult.”
To better prepare riders, Corsen and his colleagues are developing a color-coding system to indicate the difficulty level of mountain bike trails. “It’s similar to the system used at ski slopes. Green indicates an easy trail, blue is moderate, red is challenging, and black is for advanced riders.” The vast majority of trails in the Netherlands are currently classified as blue, Corsen said.
Color codes have been assigned to just over half of the 280 mountain bike trails in the Netherlands. “We encourage the managers of the remaining trails to participate as well,” Corsen said. “This will reduce the risk of falls and injuries.”
