EU-Schoolfruit has received the ‘well-substantiated’ recognition because the Recognition Committee considers the programme to be an excellent, well-thought-out and well-substantiated intervention, and because the programme has been substantially further developed since the previous recognition (2013). This means that the programme remains an official Healthy School activity for the theme of Nutrition.

EU-Schoolfruit encourages children to eat fruit and vegetables together in the classroom. Participating primary schools receive 3 portions of vegetables and fruit every week for all pupils for 20 weeks. And it is completely free, thanks to funding from the European Union.

During the programme, schools also work on education about vegetables, fruit and healthy nutrition, in combination with the Smaaklessen educational programme. After the twenty weeks of free vegetables and fruit, schools continue on their own. For example, they can ask parents to provide vegetables and fruit for their children to take to school. Or they can arrange for a paid school fruit subscription to be taken out with a school fruit supplier.

In the 2018/2019 school year, the Netherlands is taking part in the European school fruit scheme for the tenth year. The scheme aims to:

  • encourage the consumption of vegetables and fruit among schoolchildren
  • teach children healthy eating habits
  • promote the sale of vegetables and fruit


The Netherlands Enterprise Agency implements the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The Smaaklessen & EU-Schoolfruit Support Centre handles communication, education and registration during the EU-Schoolfruit programme. The suppliers handle the purchasing and transport of the weekly delivery. EU-Schoolfruit is also supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

More than half of all primary schools have taken part in the EU-Schoolfruit programme at least once. The programme has been running since 2011, and around 5,500 schools have participated in total.

In evaluations, teachers report that, after the programme, more pupils started bringing vegetables and fruit to school and that the programme has a lasting effect on pupils’ consumption of vegetables and fruit. Teachers also report that pupils know more types of vegetables and fruit and that they know more about the importance of healthy nutrition.