Bird flu detected again in Hierden
Around 9,500 ducks are being culled at a second farm in the Gelderland village.
There is news on this story (Saturday, 14 November 2026, 11:45): Third bird flu outbreak in a week hits farm in Hierden
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Bird flu has been detected again in Hierden, this time at a duck breeding farm. According to the NVWA, around 9,500 animals are being culled to prevent the virus from spreading further.
The infection was detected at a farm in the municipality of Harderwijk. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature has instructed the NVWA to cull the animals. The NVWA announced the news on 12 November.
It is the second infection in Hierden in a short period. On 9 November, bird flu was detected at another poultry farm with ducks. That farm has since been culled. The NVWA reports that the new farm in Hierden has already been culled three times: twice in 2022 and once in 2025.
A restriction zone with a radius of 10 kilometres applies around the site. It consists of a protection zone with a radius of 3 kilometres and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometres. Two poultry farms lie within the 1-kilometre zone; a further eleven farms lie within the 10-kilometre zone.
Rules apply within the restriction zone to the transport of birds, eggs, manure and used litter. The NVWA also reports that it is investigating whether animals or products were transported to or from the farm shortly before the discovery. If necessary, additional measures may follow.
A nationwide housing requirement for commercially kept poultry has been in force since 28 October. Hobby keepers must also shield their birds. The infection says nothing about the safety of food that reaches the market in accordance with normal regulations, but it does pose a risk to poultry farms and to the spread of the virus among birds.
The repeated infections show that bird flu can return outside the usual winter period. The NVWA calls the virus unpredictable. The precise cause of this infection has not been established.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The NVWA reported a new infection in Hierden on 12 November.
- Around 9,500 ducks are being culled.
- A restriction zone of 10 kilometres applies around the farm.
- A nationwide housing requirement for commercially kept poultry has been in force since 28 October.
Left
Arguments Typically emphasises that culling causes animal suffering and economic damage, and that structural prevention, vaccination and support for affected farmers are needed.
Values Animal welfare, public responsibility and protecting vulnerable entrepreneurs.
Consequences Fears that farmers and animals will bear most of the cost of a system that does not prevent infections sustainably.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that rapid culling and transport restrictions are currently the instruments available to limit further spread, while vaccination and long-term policy are investigated further.
Values Public health, feasibility and proportionality.
Consequences Wants measures limited to what is epidemiologically necessary while leaving room for evaluation.
Right
Arguments Emphasises the responsibility of companies and keepers for biosecurity and warns against increasingly broad government rules for agriculture.
Values Individual responsibility, economic continuity and limited government intervention.
Consequences Fears that blanket measures will affect small businesses disproportionately and calls for targeted enforcement.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key facts were checked directly with the NVWA and compared with reporting by NOS. The cause of the infection has not been presented as established.
- confirmed Bird flu has been detected again in Hierden at a duck breeding farm. — NVWA, news report of 12 November 2026. source
- confirmed Around 9,500 animals are being culled. — The figure is stated in the NVWA report. source
- confirmed Eleven other poultry farms lie within the 10-kilometre zone. — The figure is stated in the NVWA report. source
Editor's note
The new infection concerns around 9,500 ducks at a second farm in Hierden. The precise route of infection is still unknown.Sources
The story so far
- Saturday, 14 November 2026, 09:09 Bird flu detected again in Hierden (this article)
- Saturday, 14 November 2026, 11:45 Third bird flu outbreak in a week hits farm in Hierden
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „vogelgriep hierden”
- Het Parool — „vogelgriep hierden”
- Trouw — „vogelgriep hierden”