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

29 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

Local councils call for help in eradicating the destructive American crayfish

September 28, 2020
The American invader. Photo: Mike Murphy via Wikimedia Commons
The American invader. Photo: Mike Murphy via Wikimedia Commons

Dutch local authorities have called on national government to take action against the American crayfish, which, they say are damaging water plants and wildlife and may be contributing to river and canal bank damage.

The crayfish – Procambarus clarkii, or red swamp crayfish – are thought to have travelled from their native United States in the ballast tanks of large freighters and are well adapted to local waterways. They are particularly common in Utrecht, Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland.

‘They dig holes in soft ground,’ Ad Jongenelen, from Langedijk town council told local broadcaster NH Nieuws. ‘It is an invasive exotic which is difficult to get rid of.’

Fishing for them is not a structural solution because they reproduce rapidly, Jongenelen said. They also have few natural enemies.

Local councils have now voted by 98 to 2 to urge the government to get involved and to draw up an action plan by the end of the year

In 2018, the provincial authorities in Noord-Holland launched a campaign to turn the pest into a local delicacy, and enlisted tv chef Leon de Mazairac to give a crayfish cooking masterclass.

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