Bird flu outbreak leads to culling of 24,000 hens in Drenthe
A bird flu outbreak at a laying hen farm in Geesbrug, Drenthe, has prompted the culling of 24,000 birds to prevent further spread. Residents and poultry farmers within a 10-kilometre zone face transport bans and stricter biosecurity measures, impacting local agriculture and food supply chains.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Geesbrug (municipality of Coevorden, Drenthe) |
| Number of birds culled | 24,000 laying hens |
| 1 km and 3 km zones | No other poultry farms within these zones |
| 10 km restriction zone | 27 other poultry farms affected |
| Transport ban | Applies to birds, hatching eggs, table eggs, manure, and used litter |
| National measures | Indoor housing obligation for commercial birds since October 2025 |
| Tracing investigation | NVWA investigating risky contacts and potential further measures |
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) is responsible for managing animal disease outbreaks in the Netherlands, including avian influenza. It enforces measures such as culling infected livestock and implementing transport bans to protect public health and the agricultural sector.
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Read the full translated article below
Avian influenza detected in Geesbrug (Drenthe)
Avian influenza has been detected at a laying hen farm in Geesbrug (municipality of Coevorden, province of Drenthe). To prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) has decided to cull the approximately 24,000 birds at the location, as carried out by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Within the 1 and 3 km zones around the infected farm, there are no other poultry farms. In the 10 km restriction zone around the infected location, there are 27 other poultry farms.
Transport ban
A transport ban is now in effect across the entire 10-kilometre zone.
This means that from locations with birds in this zone, no birds, hatching eggs and/or table eggs may be transported. The ban also applies to the removal of poultry manure and used litter. These measures are necessary to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the country. Other animals than birds and their products may still be transported to and from locations with birds, provided this is done in accordance with the strict conditions of the hygiene protocol.
The location of the 10-kilometre zone can be viewed on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
Since 16 October 2025, a national indoor housing and containment obligation has been in place in the Netherlands. The indoor housing obligation applies to all commercially kept birds. The containment obligation applies to non-commercially kept high-risk birds (for example, hobby poultry).
Since 26 November 2025, the national ban on visiting bird enclosures has been tightened. Visits to these facilities are only permitted if the visit is necessary for public health, animal health, animal welfare or the health of persons present in the stable.
Tracing investigation
The NVWA is conducting a tracing investigation into risky contacts. This is to determine whether products or poultry have been transported to or from this location in the period prior to the report. If necessary, additional measures will follow, such as extra sampling or blocking a risky contact farm. These measures will be announced via an update to this press release and through the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
Documents
Regulation of the State Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature of 21 March 2026, no. WJZ/105349014, ...
Regulation | 21-03-2026