Food banks across various Dutch cities have reported a notable increase in the number of people coming to them for help, NU reports.
A recent investigation conducted by NU has found that food banks in The Hague, Den Bosch, Groningen, Rotterdam, and Limburg have seen an increase in the number of people registering with them for additional help and support - and the number of registrants at Dutch food banks is only expected to increase over the coming weeks.
This sudden increase can be attributed to a handful of different factors, most notably the high cost of living and rising prices across the Netherlands, as well as the ongoing arrival of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
This most recent increase comes as food banks are already having to provide for more families following the coronavirus pandemic, as thousands suddenly faced unemployment. In 2019, 151.000 people received support from food banks. This figure rose by over 10.000 in 2020; in Amsterdam, the number of people relying on food banks increased by between 40 and 50 percent in the spring of 2020.
While a spokesperson for the Amsterdam Food Bank told NU that the number of people in the Netherlands relying on food banks was likely to rise further over the coming weeks and months, a representative from The Hague explained that they were more than able to handle the growing numbers: “We will only reach a maximum when we reach 2,200 to 2.300 packages per week. We are currently distributing approximately 1.850 packages per week.”
Want to know how you can help those in need? Check out our guide to food banks in the Netherlands.