A recent bird flu outbreak has been detected at a small-scale poultry farm in Assendelft, a village in the province of North Holland, according to the Dutch government. This is the latest in a series of outbreaks affecting the country in recent weeks. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has confirmed the presence of the virus and will cull approximately 220 birds at the location to prevent further spread. An immediate transport ban has been imposed within a 10-km radius of the infected farm, and the NVWA is conducting a tracing investigation to identify any risky contacts, including the movement of products or poultry before the infection was reported.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of bird flu infections across the Netherlands. In recent weeks, the virus has been confirmed at poultry farms in the provinces of Gelderland, Flevoland, and Friesland, resulting in the culling of tens of thousands of chickens. Nationwide confinement measures have been in effect since October 16, 2025, requiring all commercially kept poultry to be housed indoors and non-commercially kept risk birds to be shielded from contact with wild birds. This outbreak highlights the ongoing challenges in managing bird flu and the importance of implementing strict measures to protect poultry populations and prevent further spread.
