A modest community initiative that began locally has evolved into a significant nationwide movement – and now, it's stepping onto the global stage.
The National Walking Challenge for People with a Migration Background, a widely embraced programme encouraging people across the Netherlands to get moving together, has been nominated for the 2025 United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force Awards on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), presented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ten years after its launch, the Challenge supports more than 350 local walking groups. Notably, 140 of these have been set up to engage people with a migration background. These communities face a higher risk of chronic obesity and are often underrepresented in preventive health programmes.
The UN nomination highlights the programme’s success in reaching people who may not be served by traditional care pathways, offering a model for inclusive, community-led prevention.
Since 2021, the Challenge has included a tailored track co-developed with Vereniging DSB and Cities for Better Health, designed specifically for underserved migrant communities. The pilot began in Rotterdam and quickly expanded to other cities, supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
At the heart of the programme is a simple idea: local leaders guide walking groups for 20 weeks, supported with a small organisational budget. Beyond the physical activity, the social element drives momentum, and walking often includes shared meals, music, or cultural celebrations, creating a sense of belonging and building lasting habits.
“It is so important to listen to messages coming from communities. That helped us see health inequalities. People from migrant backgrounds initially had low representation in the challenge, despite being a group that had the most to gain,” said Sophie Rijntjes, Prevention Project Leader, Novo Nordisk Netherlands.
“We saw that key figures in the community, who are known and trusted within a community, can play a central role. That clearly worked and has made this programme successful,” added Sophie.
Community leaders have shaped each group to reflect their culture, choosing routes that pass by local landmarks, adapting times to fit around prayer or work schedules, and making space for social connection along the way. Participation has been especially strong in The Hague among Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese communities.
Run by the Bas van de Goor Foundation, the National Walking Challenge for People with a Migration Background shows what’s possible when prevention starts where people are in their neighbourhoods, led by people they know and trust. It also demonstrates how local action can help meet national health priorities and global NCD targets.
The winners of the 2025 UN Inter-Agency Task Force Awards will be announced at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.
