Lifelines is a large, multi-generational, prospective cohort study that includes over 167,000 participants (10%) from the northern population of the Netherlands. Through the length, size and in-depth examination we provide many excellent opportunities for studies worldwide unraveling the etiology of multifactorial diseases focusing on multifactor risk factors. Our aim is to enable research to better prevent, predict, diagnose and treat diseases. This is why we generate large amounts of data for the purpose of research on complex interactions between the environmental, phenotypic and genomic factors involved in the development of (chronic) diseases. A unique feature is the possibility to collect additional data or biosamples by recalling participants and to analyse these in combination with general Lifelines data and samples.