New campaign aims to slash barn fires and protect Dutch livestock farmers
Every week, a barn fire devastates Dutch farms, causing animal suffering and financial ruin. A new government-backed campaign offers farmers practical tips to prevent fires, backed by personal stories and expert advice.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Campaign Name | Prevent Barn Fires |
| Launch Date | March 23, 2026 |
| Organizers | Ministry of LVVN, Fire Services Netherlands, LTO Netherlands, POV, NAJK, Association of Insurers |
| Website | www.voorkomstalbrand.nl |
| Key Tips | Safe use of electrical equipment, welding, manure mixing, storage of hay/straw |
| Annual Barn Fires | Nearly one per week |
| Additional Measures | Electrical inspections, fire safety inspections, NIPV framework |
| Research Tool | Annual Risk Monitor with fire origin and barn construction year analysis |
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) oversees policies to ensure the safety and sustainability of the agricultural sector, including livestock farming. This campaign aligns with its mandate to support farmers in mitigating risks that threaten their livelihoods and animal welfare. The Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV) provides research and frameworks to enhance fire safety standards in agricultural settings.
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Sector and Ministry of LVVN launch campaign to prevent barn fires
Nearly every week in the Netherlands, a barn fire occurs. This causes a great deal of suffering and grief and has a significant financial impact. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) is launching the ‘Prevent Barn Fires’ campaign in collaboration with Fire Services Netherlands, LTO Netherlands, Pig Farming Producers’ Organization (POV), Dutch Agricultural Youth Contact (NAJK) and the Association of Insurers.
State Secretary Silvio Erkens (LVVN): “A barn fire is truly horrifying. It causes immense animal suffering and grief for entrepreneurs. The damage also brings financial risks and uncertainty about the future of their business. That’s why we want to provide entrepreneurs with concrete tips to reduce the risk of a barn fire.”
Personal stories and practical tips
On the campaign website www.voorkomstalbrand.nl , five concrete tips are provided to reduce the risk of barn fires. For example, advice on safely using electrical equipment, welding and mixing manure. The website also features personal stories, such as that of livestock farmer Joost Luken: “The most likely cause in our case was a short circuit in an appliance, which sparked onto flammable material, dust or straw. Always pay close attention to the storage of hay, straw, machinery and technical installations. These factors can make all the difference, especially at a moment when you least expect it.”
Raising awareness among livestock farmers
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness among livestock farmers about the risks of barn fires. Research by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) into fire safety in livestock farms shows that many farmers have experienced a near-miss fire, but rarely a major blaze. As a result, the risk is often perceived as low, even though barn fires are a frequent occurrence in practice. The campaign therefore offers practical tips to minimize these risks.
Further measures to address barn fires
While the number of fires is decreasing, every barn fire is one too many. For this reason, the government is working on a comprehensive approach to reduce the number of barn fires in the Netherlands. In addition to the campaign, an electrical inspection and a fire safety inspection for livestock farms are being developed. Research has also shown that the fire safety of a barn must be addressed holistically for an effective approach. In this context, a framework called ‘Basis for fire safety in livestock barns’ has been established by the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV). This framework helps identify fire safety risks and potential solutions for barns. The further application possibilities of the framework are currently being explored.
Additionally, efforts are being made to expand barn fire research. Each year, a Risk Monitor is published with figures on the number of barn fires. By conducting a more detailed analysis—including the origin of the fire and the construction year of the barn—the government hopes to gain greater insight into the causes and risk factors.