Best Countries to Escape Hay Fever: Spain, South Africa, and Japan – The Latest Strategies and Measures

In short: grass and trees are the biggest pollinators and you can find them almost everywhere. In countries with a maritime climate like ours or a continental climate like many other places in Europe, you can sneeze when you get there. It is estimated that grass and tree pollen cause complaints in 20 percent of Dutch people. The chances of that percentage increasing further are very high.

Spain: Trees on La Rambla in Barcelona must be removed

The same applies to Spain, says our correspondent Richard Hogenkamp. “In 2020, around 15 to 20 percent of the population will suffer from pollen allergy. The latest reports already mention 20 to 25 percent. And half of Spaniards are expected to have hay fever by 2050.”

This is largely due to climate change, a process that the Netherlands is also experiencing. Due to higher temperatures, trees and grasses no longer go into winter, but instead grow for a much longer period of time. Due to the extended flowering period, pollen remains in the air longer and allergies can also develop more easily.

“In Spain people suffer from hay fever complaints from November to April,” says Hogenkamp. “Most people suffer for a shorter period of time, depending on exactly what you are cancerizing. The peak for most tree species is in March and April, but there are olive trees in May and June.”

“Only these olive trees are one of the biggest culprits in Spain. Along with the bush and the plane tree.” It is only the latter that Barcelona is full of. They also run along the city’s most famous street, La Rambla, causing passers-by to suffer from itchy eyes, runny noses and sneezing. That’s why Barcelona is taking action. 45,000 plane trees will be removed by 2027. They are replaced with trees that cause fewer allergic reactions.

Spanish doctors also give some advice: stay inside during the worst hours of the day. These are between 5am and 10am and from 7am to 10pm. “If you have complaints in May and June, you’re done with it, when Spaniards stay inside in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day. Then you’re inside all day,” he said. Hogenkamp.

South Africa: Europeans bring hay fever trees with them

Hay fever is also an unpleasant phenomenon outside of Europe. Such as in South Africa, where people also suffer from the cypress tree and the plane tree. And of course that is because of the Europeans.

“The oak tree was brought to South Africa by the VOC, the British brought plane trees and cypresses grow from southern Europe,” said journalist Sophie van Leeuwen. European settlers needed wood to develop the Cape, build houses, oak wine barrels, basically everything at that time.

But now South African hay fever patients are left with the pollen from all these trees. “And the number of patients with hay fever is increasing,” says Van Leeuwen. The same applies to the amount of pollen floating through the air. The country invests heavily in measuring equipment to monitor where and when pollen hits.

Anyone who is in South Africa probably has very little problem with pollen. South Africa’s spring falls in September, October and November.

Japan: Workers work on a tropical island

Finally, Japan, where the most dramatic measures are being taken against hay fever. And that is necessary, because many Japanese people have pollen allergy. This applies to 40 percent of the population, twice as much as in the Netherlands. Last year, the capital city of Tokyo had the highest pollen concentrations ever measured. Reason for the Prime Minister to declare hay fever a ‘national disease’.

The cypress tree is also famous in Japan. The Asian country sent them a lot after World War II. But they are now coming back from that. Over the next ten years, the number of cypress trees must be reduced by 20 percent and replaced by trees that are ‘resistant to hay fever’.

And some companies are taking action too. For example, they send their workers to the tropical island of Okinawa. It is a true paradise with white beaches and many hours of sunshine. And it is a place where there is not much pollen floating through the air. They go there until most of the pollen in their original residence is gone and the employer pays for the trip.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, employees at one in five companies can work remotely at the peak of the season. The companies do this because many workers get sick. It is estimated that the damage to the economy is 1.4 billion euros per day.

Where do you have to go?

If you want to move to an area with less pollen, a small dry island is indeed a good idea,” says Martijn Dorrestein from Buienradar. “The coast is always better anyway. at the wind here. When it comes from the sea, clean air is blown on land. After all, there are no trees or grass growing at sea. You can see that in Holland too. With a westerly wind you usually see that the pollen concentrations in the coastal areas are low.”

“Another solution, but less fun, is to look for a place where it rains. Rainforest is then an option. Very dry areas, such as deserts, are also possible. Dubai is another good option, as long as you can stand the heat. . And high in the mountains, above the tree line, I suspect you will also suffer less from hay fever,” said Dorrestein.