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JOINING FORCES IN EUROPE

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Cancer in Europe

There is a growing demand for high-quality, timely international cancer data. Cross-border collaboration between cancer registries enables countries to compare care outcomes, identify disparities, and accelerate improvements across the entire cancer continuum. Cancer registries are the fundamental source of objective cancer data, and thus are indispensable for the evaluation of the cancer burden and for design of effective cancer control plans. 

IKNL, as administrator of the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), is actively involved in several international initiatives. We participate in longstanding collaborations such as ECIS, Concord and IARC’s Cancer in 5 Continents. IKNL participates in projects within the OECI (Organisation of European Cancer Institutes), and we contribute to evaluations within the OECI accreditation programme.

More recently, IKNL has joined CancerWatch, a European Joint Action starting in September 2025, aimed at improving the timeliness and quality of population-based cancer registry data. IKNL will lead two Work Packages in CancerWatch. We also participate in the ORiON Joint Action, which supports the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR) by monitoring national cancer control plans and highlighting disparities in cancer care across Europe.

Through the NCR, IKNL plays an active role in the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR), where Gijs Geleijnse (IKNL) currently serves as co-chair. We are also a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and an associated member of the European Cancer Organisation. 
In addition, Rob Verhoeven (IKNL) currently serves as Treasurer of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR), reinforcing our role in the global cancer registry community.

International comparisons show that cancer incidence and outcomes in the Netherlands are broadly in line with those in other Northwestern European countries. However, differences between and within countries remain. Read more on the ECIR / OECD Cancer Country Profile 2025 – Netherlands, which highlights national performance and inequalities across the cancer continuum.

Explore European and global cancer data: