Share of vegetarians and flexitarians in the Netherlands 2017-2023

Conscious meat consumption is a topic regularly debated in the Netherlands. The vegetarian community in the country is small but growing: whereas in 2017 six percent of survey respondents stated to consider themselves vegetarian, by 2023 that figure had reached nine percent. Among flexitarians however, that is part-time vegetarians who consciously avoid meat at least one day a week, the trend witnessed more fluctuations over the years. As of 2023, 32 percent of survey respondents considered themselves flexitarians, an eight percent loss compared to the previous year and only one percent more than in 2017. 

The young vegetarian 

Not eating meat is particularly popular among the younger generations in the Netherlands. A 2024 survey found that the largest share of vegetarians is to be found among 18-to-29 year-olds. Flexitarians on the other hand were mostly distributed among 18-to-19 year-olds and 30-to-39 year-olds.

Reasons to go vegetarian

Vegetarians have different motives to stop eating meat. According to a 2024 survey, the main reasons to go vegetarian included concerns about animal welfare, environmental protection, and personal health. Interestingly, the price of animal products also factored in, as indicated by close to 12 percent of respondents.