Don’t Eat Animals Day – 4 October 2026

4 October is ‘Don’t Eat Animals Day’, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of eating less meat. By choosing plant-based meals more often, fewer animals are needed for meat production, which can help to provide more space and better conditions for the animals that are kept for consumption. Eating less meat can also be a simple way to reduce the impact on the climate and contribute to a healthier diet. This is because the production of the meat consumed in the Netherlands results in significant greenhouse gas emissions. According to calculations, if all Dutch people were to eat a plant-based diet for just one day, this could save around 30 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions – equivalent to driving approximately 200 million kilometres. Eating less meat can also have health benefits, such as a lower risk of certain conditions, including diabetes. ‘No Meat Day’ therefore offers an accessible reason to opt for a plant-based meal more often. Further information is available on the lives of animals in the livestock industry, the environmental impact of meat consumption and the health benefits of eating less meat. Find out more here about ‘No Meat Day’ on 4 October 2026, an initiative by the Wakker Dier foundation.