A healthy, relaxed, and social lunch at work is gaining ground. This was evident during the event about the New Lunch Culture at Koppert Cress in Monster. Dozens of professionals from the food sector, healthcare, and education shared ideas for a lunch that contributes to health, vitality, and attractive employment.
The Koppert Cress office building was transformed for the occasion into a true experience: from an edible jungle to a living version of Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters. Visitors took a culinary journey through Dutch lunch culture. Koppert Cress offers employees a free, healthy lunch every day. More and more companies in South Holland are participating in the development of a healthy lunch.
As an innovative food province, South Holland embraces the New Lunch Culture. The initiative aligns seamlessly with our mission for a healthy food environment with accessible, affordable, and visible healthy food for everyone. This is urgently needed, as our province is currently the unhealthiest in the Netherlands. 1 in 7 children and more than half of adults are overweight. This increases the risk of lifestyle diseases with high healthcare costs as a result.
New Lunch Culture Award 2025
With millions of employees in the Netherlands, employers have a key role. A jury therefore presented the first New Lunch Culture Award 2025 to CIRFOOD for their healthy, sustainable, and affordable all-you-can-eat lunch that 250 guests enjoy daily. Pieter Vader from CIRFOOD is honored: “This recognition gives us even more energy to continue this journey.”
A special Trailblazer Award went to Rob Baan, founder of Koppert Cress, as a major inspirer of the movement. Deputy Health & Welfare Mariëtte Van Leeuwen explained: “Rob connected the chef, the doctor, and the gardener to work together for a healthy food system and a healthier Netherlands.”
Follow your heart
Rob Baan thanked everyone who takes on this mission. A song by Karin Bloemen added extra strength to his words: “Join our mission and follow your heart, show everyone how it can be done better. And ensure that everyone in the Netherlands participates in the New Lunch Culture.”
The New Lunch Culture is an initiative of Fresh Produce Centre, BeBright, Koppert Cress, Greenport West-Holland, and the Province of South Holland, and is made possible by GroenteCongres, Top Sector Horticulture & Starting Materials, Platform Nutrition, Health, and Living Environment, Municipality of Westland.