News item | 29-01-2026 | 11:00
Dutch people are getting older and the number of people with dementia is increasing rapidly. By 2050, this is expected to amount to more than 610,000 people. It is therefore important that the government continues to invest in research into the disease, good support and care and a dementia-friendly society. Based on this necessity, the National Dementia Strategy has been revised and renewed. Money has been reserved for the implementation of the strategy between 2026-2030. In 2026 that will be 23 million euros.
State Secretary Pouw-Verweij (Long-term and Social Care): “Dementia has major consequences for people’s daily lives: memories fade, things that were taken for granted become difficult and dependency on others increases. Yet your life does not stop when you are diagnosed with dementia. Many people still want and can be at the center of society and participate meaningfully. We as a society must offer them that space. I am happy that we have managed to take this into account when updating the strategy.”
Much has already been achieved in recent years with the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy (2021-2030). Steps have been taken to make society more dementia-friendly, to boost scientific research into dementia and to better coordinate care and support. To make the dementia strategy future-proof, it has now been updated and money has been made available for the next five years in the Main Line Agreement for Elderly Care (HLO). The voice of people with dementia and their loved ones remains indispensable. That is why they are involved in the renewal of the strategy and there will be a sounding board group in which they can share their experiences and ideas about implementation. Organizations will also work together more administratively to take additional steps on the actions below in the coming years.
Prevention research and attention to imaging
In the coming years, investments will be made in scientific research into causes, prevention, (early) diagnosis and treatment of symptoms of dementia. Because research increasingly shows that prevention can contribute to preventing or delaying dementia, extra money is being made available for this. Extra attention is paid to the fact that people with dementia are more than their diagnosis and can make a meaningful contribution to society.
Support and care
Finally, efforts are made to provide better support and care for people with dementia, with specific attention to young people with dementia, people with misunderstood behavior and people with a different cultural background. For this purpose, a basic dementia functionality is being developed, as agreed in the Supplementary Care and Welfare Agreement (AZWA), and the Dementia Care Standard is being updated. Part of this is future-proof case management, where case managers provide support and guidance to people with dementia and their loved ones even in the ‘uncomfortable phase’.
The following organizations collaborate in the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy:
Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), Health Insurers Netherlands (ZN), Alzheimer Netherlands, ActiZ, GGD GHOR Netherlands, Social Work Netherlands, Dementia Network Netherlands (DNN), Nurses & Caregivers Netherlands (V&VN), Verenso and the Professional Association of Professionals in Social Work (BPSW), ZonMw, Dementia Care Standard and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS).
