5.6 million sports injuries in 2024: still fewer visits to the emergency room
Sports injuries in the Netherlands rose in 2024, with 5.6 million cases reported—a 300,000 increase from the previous year. Yet fewer people sought emergency care for these incidents, as many turned to alternative treatments like physiotherapy. The shift reflects both higher sports participation and changing healthcare habits.
The rise in injuries aligns with more Dutch residents engaging in physical activities. Despite the uptick, the injury risk per 1,000 hours of sports has dropped. This improvement comes as people gravitate towards safer options such as fitness, walking, or cycling instead of high-risk sports.
Mountain biking remains a notable exception, accounting for the highest number of emergency room visits. Young people under 18 are the most affected group in this category. To address the issue, the Dutch Touring Cyclists’ Union (NTFU) has introduced a colour-coded system for mountain bike trails. Over half of the country’s 280 routes now carry blue labels, indicating moderate difficulty.
Parents also play a role in emergency visit trends. They tend to take injured children to hospitals faster than they would for their own injuries. This behaviour contributes to higher emergency numbers for younger patients, though exact figures require data from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System or the National Trauma Registry.
The decline in emergency visits for sports injuries reduces strain on the healthcare system. With more people choosing physiotherapy and safer sports, the overall injury rate per activity hour continues to fall. The new trail classifications for mountain biking aim to further lower accident risks in the future.
