About us
Gezondtijd! ('Health time!' - a Dutch play on words referring to 'gezondheid' = health and 'tijd' = time) is a collaboration between several advocates for a healthier time policy in the Netherlands: Better Times Platform (formerly B-Society NL), Standard time and Stop the summertime, the clock has to turn back (including a petition with over 64.000 signatures)
In response to the EU proposal 'European directive on discontinuing seasonal changes of time' and the usual sentiment-based discussions on this topic, we have joined forces to draw attention to the new scientific insights into this complex issue and its broad social impact.
DST-changes and time zone have a broad social impact
We have been invited to the various DST expert sessions that the Ministry of the Interior (BZK) held from October 2018 to June 2019. On August 15th we presented and explained our position paper 'Timing is everything’ to BZK officials. They forwarded our paper for notification to the Royal Institute For Public Health and Environment (RIVM) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS).
Want to know more?
You can check out some interesting articles and research links from our paper's references under Resources. Our position paper is now available in English and can be downloaded from the sidebar to the right or below. Table of contents:
Summary
Purpose of this paper
1. Motivation
1a - European directive on discontinuing seasonal changes of time
1b - State of affairs in the Netherlands
2. Context
2a - Origin of time zones and standard times
2b - Origin of bi-annual clock changes / DST
2c - The biological clock and rhythms
2d - The importance of sleep
2e - Chronotypes
2f - Social jetlag and time zones
2g - The importance of light
3. Social consequences
3a - Health
3b - Work
3c - Education
3d - Traffic and transport
3e - Safety
3f - Energy and environment
3g - Finance and economy
4. Conclusions
- High time for a Time policy!
- Dutch best option
- European best option
Appendix
- References
- About the authors
- Version control
Stay informed?
Subscribe to our newsletter about the progress of this EU proposal in the sidebar on the right or below.
EN: Download our position paper in English
FR: Téléchargez notre exposé de position en français
ES: Descarge nuestro documento de posición en castellano
We are proud founding members of the:
Sign the petition (more than 66.000 people already have!)
Sign up for our English language newsletter on the progress of this EU proposal:
This is not a weekly newsletter, we only send an update when there are new developments surrounding this issue.
Newsletters:
> March 25th 2023: Western Europe at a disadvantage - Launch of FAQ campaign
> October 28th 2022: Natural time, naturally! - Proposal for Permanent European Time zones
> March 28th 2022: US chooses permanent DST - EU to follow?
> January 19th 2022: Help us put DST back on the EU agenda
> October 31st 2021: Panel discussions | Barcelona Time Use Week | Declaration on Time Policies
> March 28th 2021: EU proposal on ice | Benelux Alliance for Healthy Time use
> October 25th 2020: Last clock change? | New International Alliance
> March 31st 2020: March 27 press release and news about the EU proposal
> December 3rd 2019: Positions EU Transport Council & EU Sleep scientists
