What do Dutch people eat to grow taller?

December 23, 2025 •

3 min read

While genetics account for 60-80% of human height, the Netherlands' average height has increased by more than 8 inches in the last 150 years, largely due to environmental factors. This dramatic growth spurt has fueled curiosity about what Dutch people eat to grow taller, with their famously dairy-rich diet and high-protein intake often highlighted as key influences. However, diet is just one piece of a complex puzzle that also includes superior healthcare and economic prosperity.

Quick Summary

This article explores the nutritional habits of the Dutch population, focusing on their high consumption of dairy and protein, and how this dietary pattern, combined with lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, is linked to their status as the world's tallest people.

Key Points

High Dairy Consumption: Dutch people drink a lot of milk and eat plenty of cheese and yogurt, providing essential calcium and protein for bone development.
Protein-Rich Diet: The traditional diet includes ample protein from dairy, meat, fish, and legumes, which is vital for building and repairing body tissues during growth.
Superior Healthcare: Universal, high-quality healthcare in the Netherlands ensures children are healthy from a young age, allowing more energy to be channeled into growth.
Genetic Predisposition: While not the sole factor, Northern European genetics provide a foundation for height that is maximized by environmental factors.
Active Lifestyle: The prevalence of cycling and an active culture promotes physical health and stronger bones, supporting optimal growth.
Economic Stability: High economic prosperity and low inequality ensure access to nutritious food for most citizens, preventing stunted growth from malnutrition.
Recent Height Gains: The Dutch were not always the tallest; their impressive increase in height over the last 150 years highlights the impact of improved living conditions.

The Dominance of Dairy in the Dutch Diet

A significant characteristic of the traditional Dutch diet is its high dairy consumption. From a young age, Dutch individuals consume substantial amounts of milk, cheese, and yogurt, providing essential nutrients vital for bone growth.

High Milk Consumption

Milk is consumed regularly with meals, ensuring a consistent intake of calcium and vitamin D, crucial for bone development and calcium absorption, respectively.

Calcium: Supports strong, dense bone development.
Vitamin D: Aids in calcium absorption.

The Importance of Cheese

Cheese, including varieties like Gouda and Edam, is a daily staple, often eaten on sandwiches. This adds further protein and calcium, supporting growth. The prevalence of dairy is linked to the Netherlands' efficient dairy farming history.

Protein Power for Growth

In addition to dairy, the Dutch diet is rich in protein from various sources, essential for tissue growth and repair. Protein provides the amino acids needed for development.

Protein sources in the Dutch diet include:

Meat and Fish: Common sources of quality protein.
Legumes: Lentils and beans contribute protein and fiber.
Soybeans: A popular plant-based protein.

A Balanced and Nutritionally Dense Diet

Beyond specific nutrients, the overall balance of the Dutch diet is important. Dinners often include meat, potatoes, and vegetables, providing a wide range of vitamins and minerals necessary for growth.

A comparative look at nutritional factors influencing height


Factor	Dutch Dietary Habits	Alternative Factors	Role in Height
Primary Nutrients	High intake of calcium and protein from dairy and meat.	High intake of vegetables, fortified grains.	Essential for bone mineralization, muscle development, and overall growth.
Socioeconomic Status	High standard of living, low inequality, universal healthcare.	Poverty, inequality, and limited access to nutritious food.	Ensures all children have access to optimal nutrition and care, preventing stunted growth.
Lifestyle	Active lifestyle, with cycling as a primary mode of transport.	Sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity.	Promotes bone density and strength, contributing to a strong skeletal structure.
Genetics	Genetic predisposition for height in Northern Europeans.	Genetic makeup of the individual, which is the primary determinant.	Provides the biological blueprint, which environmental factors can help maximize.

The Multifactorial Explanation

The height of the Dutch is a result of multiple factors. While diet is important, genetics, healthcare, natural selection, and economic prosperity also play significant roles.

Genetics: Northern European ancestry provides a genetic foundation for height.
Healthcare: Excellent healthcare supports healthy growth from childhood.
Natural Selection: Some research suggests taller men may have more children, potentially increasing height in the population over time.
Economic Prosperity: A strong economy and low inequality ensure access to nutritious food.

The role of a healthy immune system

Good healthcare and a nutritious diet work together to support growth by minimizing illness and allowing energy to be directed towards development.

Conclusion

Understanding what Dutch people eat to grow taller involves recognizing the combined impact of a diet rich in dairy and protein within a supportive environment of genetics, healthcare, and economic stability. This illustrates how environmental factors can maximize genetic potential for height. Historical improvements in living standards were crucial in the Netherlands' rise to become the world's tallest nation.

What do Dutch people eat to grow taller? Insights and Takeaways

Dairy-Rich Diet: High consumption of milk, cheese, and yogurt provides calcium and protein essential for bone growth.
Protein is Paramount: Protein from various sources supports muscle and tissue development.
More Than Just Diet: Genetics, healthcare, and economic factors are also critical.
Active Lifestyle: Physical activity, such as cycling, promotes bone health.
It's a Modern Phenomenon: Dutch height increased significantly over the last 150 years due to improved living conditions.
Balanced Nutrition: A varied diet ensures intake of essential vitamins and minerals for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, high milk and dairy consumption is a well-documented aspect of the Dutch diet. Children are encouraged to drink milk daily, and dairy products like cheese are consumed frequently, contributing significant amounts of calcium and protein.

No. While a diet rich in dairy and protein is crucial for maximizing growth potential, a person's final height is largely determined by genetics (60-80%). These nutritional factors help to unlock one's genetic blueprint for height but do not override it.

No. In the mid-19th century, Dutch people were among the shortest in Europe. Their rapid growth and rise to become the world's tallest population is a modern phenomenon linked to advancements in nutrition, healthcare, and living standards.

In addition to a nutritious diet, factors include strong genetics, an excellent healthcare system that prevents childhood illnesses, economic prosperity leading to widespread access to good food, and a culturally active lifestyle that promotes physical health.

No. Human growth plates typically close in late adolescence (around ages 18-20), at which point growth stops. While a healthy diet is beneficial at any age, it cannot increase height once a person has reached adulthood.

Studies have shown that children of immigrant families raised in the Netherlands often grow taller than their counterparts in their parents' home countries. This demonstrates the strong influence of the Dutch environment, including diet and healthcare, on height within just one generation.

Some studies have suggested that taller Dutch men, on average, have more children, which could contribute to the height increase over generations by passing on "tall genes" more frequently. However, this is one theory among several environmental factors.