Fewer Dutch people are embracing veganism and vegetarianism, according to new research, which could bode poorly for those pushing such diets on Europeans.
Although more people are open to eating slightly less meat, the small population group that completely abstains from meat or animal products has actually declined between 2023 and 2025. These remarkable results, which go against the overall trend of sustainability, come from the Sustainable Living Monitor survey. This is a biennial survey of over 4,000 people, conducted by the Milieu Central knowledge center in collaboration with the research agency Motivaction.
The data shows that completely abandoning meat is on the decline among the Dutch. In 2021, 2 percent of the population claimed to be vegetarian, which meant consuming no meat or fish, but dairy and eggs. That segment grew to 5 percent in 2023, but has now dropped back to 3 percent. That is nearly a 50 percent drop in those practicing such a diet in just two years.
For vegans, who consume no animal products at all, the percentage of Dutch practicing this diet went from 0.6 percent of the population in 2021 to 2 percent in 2023, and has now fallen all the way to 0.5 percent in 2025.
In just two years, the popularity of veganism has fallen 75 percent in the Netherlands.
Several popular vegan food companies have gone bankrupt in Europe in recent years, including in the Netherlands, due to softening demand.
Data from other countries like Germany shows similar reluctance to reduce meat and introduce electric cars to save the environment.
Skepticism about vegan diets backed by science
The news comes at a time when skepticism is growing about these types of diets, especially veganism. Many people partaking in such dieting trends are lacking vital nutrients, and for children, the risks are especially great.
As noted by a study at Cambridge University: “A vegan diet can pose dangers to children, mainly due to potential deficiencies in crucial nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium, iodine, and DHA, which are vital for growth, bone density, and cognitive development. Risks include poor growth, lower bone mineral density, anemia, and in severe cases, developmental delays. Major health organizations advise that a vegan diet for children should not be undertaken without careful planning and medical supervision.”
However, many on the left have marketed these diets, including to children, as a way to fight climate change. However, the data shows that more and more people are abandoning this ideology and eating meat and animal-based products.
That is not to argue that meat eaters are necessarily healthy by default. The Western diet has seen consumption explode higher for processed foods, processed meats, and copious amounts of sugar, simple carbs. Coupled with a lack of physical exercise, it has resulted in a health disaster.
Dutch also unwilling to give up their cars
Just like meat, many Dutch people are attached to their cars, especially those with combustion engines. Only 8 percent say they would go through life without a car. Less than 19 percent are open to giving up car ownership. However, 12 percent are willing to rent out their cars via a digital platform.
There’s something strange going on with electric driving. On the one hand, the percentage of people actually driving a plug-in car has grown from 3 percent in 2023 to 6 percent in 2025. But the group of people open to switching to electric driving has decreased in the past two years, from 51 percent to 44 percent. This is despite the fact that more affordable models are appearing on the market.
Judith Roumen, strategic behavioral researcher at Milieu Centraal, suggests that the “Musk effect” could be a possible explanation. She’s referring to the apparent aversion to Tesla cars as a result of Musk’s temporary political collaboration with President Donald Trump. She also believes that the focus on environmental issues surrounding batteries may play a role in the declining support for electric driving.
Sustainable must be made easy and cheap for mass adoption
The survey results are not all bad for those promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Dutch people appear to be willing to buy fewer new clothes, take the train instead of a plane, and improve insulation in their homes for energy efficiency.
While people often say they are willing, this does not always translate into action. There remains only a small group of people who actually make sustainable choices.
“There’s a great willingness to embrace sustainability. But we need to translate that support into action,” concludes Ika van de Pas, director of the Milieu Centraal knowledge center.
“A new government doesn’t have to be cautious about implementing new sustainability measures. There’s a great willingness to participate. We just have to ensure that the most sustainable choice is also the easiest and cheapest,” he said.
