The Netherlands offers free-to-use sunscreen as temperatures rise

Free sunscreen dispensers, bought by local councils, sports center, and schools are also popping up elsewhere in the country.

They can be found dotted around parks and other public places where people gather during summertime for outdoor activities.

Speaking of the decision to invest in a free sunscreen station, a coastal resort owner said, ‘It’s not cheap, a couple of thousand euros, but we feel the health of locals and visitors is important.’

He continued, ‘We see an above-average number of people in Katwijk who are sunning themselves without protection and that is not a good thing.’

During childhood, the task of applying sunscreen is often seen as an annoying pause in our playtime on the beach or at the park.

But in recent years, a growing interest in wellness and skincare has transformed the reputation of this goopy formula into being seen as an essential everyday product.

Our skin is worth taking extra care of because it is the human body’s largest organ. It’s also porous, meaning it absorbs virtually everything in our environment – whether that be healthy vitamins or harmful pollutants.

And the sun’s UV rays are our skin’s best and worst enemies.

They’re responsible for helping our body produce vitamin D, which is an essential vitamin that supports bone function and health. But the sun’s radiation can also damage our skin as we absorb it, and too much of this exposure can result in mutations or damage to our DNA.

If taking a moment to apply a bit of sunscreen can prevent cellular damage and disease, then it’s worth it. That’s why the initiative taking place in the Netherlands is great to see because although sunscreen can be expensive, our health is priceless.