Veganism loses 75% of its followers in the Netherlands in just two years: "We lack vital nutrients"
Meat prices may be skyrocketing and its production may be catastrophically altering the planet's climate, but none of that seems to bother the Dutch: veganism, so widespread and militant in our time, has lost 75% of its supporters in the country in just two years.
2% of the Dutch identified as vegan in 2025, but today only 0.5% do. This information, which runs counter to the obsession with sustainability, comes from the biennial Sustainable Living Monitor survey, conducted by the Milieu Central center in collaboration with the research agency Motivaction.
The distinction between vegans and vegetarians lies in the fact that, although both groups abstain from consuming meat or fish, vegetarians include dairy and eggs in their diet.
In recent years, several popular vegan food companies have gone bankrupt in Europe, including in the Netherlands, due to declining demand. This news comes at a time of growing skepticism about these types of diets, especially veganism. Many people who follow these dietary trends lack vital nutrients, and the risks are particularly serious for children.
But the phenomenon extends beyond the Netherlands, and the reason doesn't appear to be solely nutritional; it may also be due to growing skepticism toward the official climate narrative. Two weeks ago, the German weekly Stern published a poll in which 69% of respondents said they opposed a ban on diesel and gasoline vehicles, while 68% were against limiting weekly purchases of meat and dairy products, and 56% rejected the idea of increasing air travel costs through a fixed tax on tickets.
Only about a quarter of those surveyed said they would voluntarily reduce air travel or meat consumption, or switch to an electric car. An even smaller number expressed a willingness to stop consuming animal products altogether or to buy only secondhand clothes.
In the Dutch survey, in fact, only 8% said they live without a car. Fewer than 19% are willing to give up car ownership, and 12% are willing to rent one through a digital platform.