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

25 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

Amsterdam’s urban parrots ‘must go’, included on ‘worst alien species’ list

January 4, 2018
A ring-necked parakeet in winter. Photo: Depositphotos.com

A group campaigning for the eradication of invasive non-native plants and animals in the Netherlands says action should be taken about the ring-necked parakeets which have made their home in many Dutch towns and cities.

The bright green birds have been included on a list of the 100 ‘worst alien species’ by an international group of scientists, which was published in the scientific journal Biological Invasions at the end of last year.

The parakeets are not included on the official European list of invasive species which should be eradicated but, according to the Parool, the Stop Invasieve Exoten now says they should be wiped out as well.

‘The researchers have established which plants, animals and fungi cause the most damage on the basis of 12 factors,’ spokesman Wildred Reinhold said. ‘This includes damage to nature, but also farming, health and welfare.’

The parakeet, the researchers say, competes for nesting space with other birds which live in hollow trees, such as owls.  In addition, they have been known to plunder orchards and eat the fruit and in cities generate complaints about noise.

There are now thought to be some 10,000 of the parakeets in the Netherlands, which established itself in the 1970s.

Roosts

The Parool said experts looked at how to eliminate the birds in 2015 and said chasing them away from their roosts and chemical sterilisation were an option. However, it would be impossible to eradicate the birds altogether because there are too many of them, the experts said.

Roelant Jonker of the organisation City Parrots, which works on urban parrot conservation, told the paper that the parakeets actually cause very little if any damage.

‘If you really want our nature to be as it used to be, then we have to get rid of rabbits and pheasants as well as the European beech tree, which was introduced by the Romans,’ he said. ‘The one thing about nature is that it is always changing.’

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
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
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