Over 60,000 animals, mainly poultry, were killed in 41 farm fires in the Netherlands last year, the Dutch insurers’ association VvV said on Thursday.

The figures are similar to 2023 and 2024, and the VvV said it is concerned that the number of fires has not gone down, despite all the political and industry attention given to the problem.

Insurers have for years called for the introduction of regular and compulsory checks on electrical systems and fire prevention measures in an effort to reduce the number of fires.

The government is currently working on two measures to introduce compulsory inspections, despite the objections of some farmers.

“We hope these can be introduced quickly, because we see in the figures that electrical systems and maintenance work are the biggest causes of the fires,” director Richard Weurding said. “Every barn fire is one too many.”

Animal welfare group Wakker Dier has long campaigned for action to reduce the number of barn fires. It says farmers should ensure there is enough water on site to extinguish a fire, and install sprinkler systems and fire alarms.

It also wants formal rules on the number of animals that can be kept in enclosed areas of barns, and says barns should have escape routes.