Barn fires killed 62,000 animals in 2024 as safety measures lag

The number of barn fires in the Netherlands remains high, with 62,000 animals killed in 2024—more than the previous year. Despite years of discussions and proposed safety measures, authorities and farmers have allegedly failed to reduce the frequency of these fires. Insurance industry leaders are demanding immediate action, warning that the government is moving too slowly, RTL reports.

The latest figures come from the annual Risk Monitor Barn Fires by the Dutch Association of Insurers. In 2024, there were 43 barn fires, matching the previous year, but with a higher number of animal casualties. "A lot of talk, but it's taking too long," said Richard Weurding, the association's director.

One fire alone accounted for most of the animal deaths: a January blaze at a poultry farm that killed 54,000 chickens. The scale of casualties often depends on the type of livestock facility, with large-scale poultry and pig farms suffering the worst losses.

Former poultry farmer Kees de Jong knows the devastation of barn fires firsthand. In 2016, a fire wiped out his 60,000 free-range chickens. "My neighbor saw a little smoke, but by then it was too late," he told RTL Nieuws. "By the time I arrived, it was a raging fire. There was no saving anything."

De Jong described watching his life's work go up in flames within hours. "Thankfully, I had a lot of support from people around me," he said. He attempted to rebuild his farm at a different location, but bureaucratic delays forced him to start over in an entirely different part of the country.

Every year, the same causes are cited for barn fires. In 2024, 21 percent were linked to electrical failures and another 21 percent to work-related incidents, mirroring previous years. "There’s still a long way to go," said Weurding.

In 2021, the Dutch Safety Board (OvV) proposed mandatory electrical and fire safety inspections for farmers to curb the crisis. The goal was to halve barn fires by 2026 compared to 2020, when there were 54 incidents.

Currently, such inspections are required only for new farm insurance policies. The Association of Insurers wants the government to enforce these checks nationwide, arguing that without stricter regulations, the problem will persist. "You can never eliminate the risk of fire, but you can make it more manageable," Weurding said.