DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

28 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Frisian farmers campaign for border fence to keep out wolves

January 7, 2021
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Five sheep farmers from Friesland are calling on the provincial council to build a 150 kilometre fence along the provincial border from the IJsselmeer to the Lauwersmeer to keep out wolves.

The five have formed a foundation – Wolvenhek Fryslân – to campaign for the fence, which, they say, should run along the border with Groningen and Drenthe. The estimated cost is some €2m and the plan is ‘deadly serious’, the farmers say.

Wolves are now breeding in the Netherlands and have occasionally been spotted in Friesland. Last year, a wolf killed several dozen sheep in the three northern provinces.

Farmers whose livestock are killed by wolves can claim compensation from the government. However, the Frisian group say the compensation does not make up for the loss and the extra time needed to make a claim.

The provincial government’s farming chief Klaas Fokkinga told local broadcaster Omrop Fryslân that the plan is a non-starter. It would be impossible to place a fence around the province, partly because it would have to cross land in private ownership, he said.

A foundation set up to help farmers make their farms wolf-proof also dismissed the plan. ‘It would have to be a very strong fence, combined with an electric shock,’ a spokesman told RTV Noord. ‘If it is not electrified, the wolf will either jump over it or dig under it.’

Last summer the province did narrowly pass a motion calling for measures to be taken to keep Friesland wolf free.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Small investors sell more homes, rental property supply shrinks
Cracks grow in coalition as Faber clashes with party leaders
Lily growers face restrictions after doctor's pesticide petition
Rain and strong sunshine ahead for the holiday weekend
MPs vote against university degree course language check
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now