Netherlands hosts Verspillingsvrije Week to reduce food waste

The Verspillingsvrije Week (Waste-Free Week) 2026 is scheduled to take place in the Netherlands from September 7 to September 13. This national campaign aims to challenge residents to minimize the disposal of edible food by encouraging small changes in kitchen habits.

Key recommendations from the campaign include checking refrigerators and pantries before shopping, using shopping lists, and meal planning. The initiative also emphasizes understanding expiration labels, noting that ‘best before’ (ten minste houdbaar tot) often refers to quality rather than safety, whereas ‘use by’ (te gebruiken tot) is a critical safety indicator. The organization suggests that if all residents avoided food waste for just one week, the Netherlands could save nearly 18 million meals.

Local activities are being organized in various municipalities. In Ridderkerk, a mobile waste station at the Ridderhof shopping center will offer free food measuring tools and organic waste baskets on Friday, September 11. However, a planned event in Barendrecht at the Kleine Duiker was canceled due to poor weather forecasts, preventing residents there from collecting the same materials.