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Bird flu at poultry farms, updates 2025/2026

Published on
October 7, 2025

On this page, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) presents an overview of highly pathogenic bird flu infections on Dutch poultry farms from October 2025 up. To prevent the virus from spreading, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has culled the animals at these farms.

Bird flu infections from October 

Below are infections as of October 2025 with the hazardous variant of bird flu; highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The first table contains Dutch commercial poultry farms and the second other locations with 50 or more birds.

Highly pathogenic bird flu at commercial poultry farms

Location and date Type of farm Type
Opende | 17-11-2025 Broilers - 56,000 animals Under investigation
Drogeham | 14-11-2025 Laying hens - 117,000 animals Under investigation
Assendelft | 14-11-2025 Laying hens - 220 animals Under investigation
Bennekom | 10-11-2025 Breeding company with hens - 20,000 animals H5N1
Swifterbant | 10-11-2025 Laying hens - 47,000 animals H5N1
Drogeham | 07-11-2025 Laying hens - 120,000 animals H5N1
Emmeloord | 03-11-2025 Laying hens - 45,000 animals H5N1
Toldijk | 27-10-2025 Pheasants - 5,000 animals H5N1
Dodewaard | 22-10-2025 Laying hen rearing - 161,000 animals H5N1
Gasselternijveenschemond | 07-10-2025 Broiler breeders- 71,000 animals H5N1

Highly pathogenic bird flu at larger non-commercial farms

Location and date Type of farm Type
Born | 05-11-2025 Birds in a zoo H5N1
Steenderen | 31-10-2025 Waterfowl and chicken keeper - 60 animals H5N1
Hummelo | 24-10-2025 Waterfowl keeper - 150 animals H5N1

Housing obligation

From October 16 2026, a housing obligation has been installed in the Netherlands.

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