Economic damage caused by wolves is limited, but is on the rise

Wolves have been living in the Netherlands again since 2018. What does this mean for livestock farming, particularly sheep farming, and for businesses in the tourism sector? Wageningen University & Research, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), has assessed the economic consequences of the presence of wolves in the Netherlands, both qualitatively and, where possible, quantitatively.

As the wolf population in our country has grown, the damage caused by attacks on livestock has also been increasing since 2018. In 2025, more than 3,300 animals were killed. In more than 97 per cent of cases, the attacks were on sheep. Nearly €1.5 million in compensation has been paid out to affected livestock farmers. The damage is concentrated among a small group of farmers who have faced repeated attacks.

Expenditure on preventive measures is also rising. The provinces are collectively investing millions of euros in subsidy schemes for wolf-proofing measures (fences, barriers) that significantly reduce the risk of attacks. To illustrate: in the vast majority of cases of damage caused by wolves, no or insufficient wolf-proofing measures had been taken on the affected farm.

Proportionally, the percentage of sheep killed in a wolf attack is low compared to the total number of sheep that died prematurely: namely 3 per cent in 2025. Diseases (such as the bluetongue outbreak in 2023 and 2024), accidents and attacks by other animals, such as dogs or foxes, account for a much larger share in total.

Even when we look at the damage to crops or farm animals caused by protected species, the wolf occupies a modest (namely tenth) place, after various species of goose and, among others, tits.

The wolf population in the Netherlands is expected to continue to grow. The WUR researchers therefore emphasise that effective protection of vulnerable livestock is important from the perspective of animal welfare and to limit the damage suffered by livestock farmers.

It is not possible to draw quantitative conclusions at national or provincial level regarding the impact of wolves on tourism. Economic damage occurs locally, particularly when the government takes measures and issues advice due to problematic wolf behaviour and the media attention surrounding it. This was the case, for example, on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug; consider the closure of the Den Treek-Henschoten Estate in 2024 and the advice to avoid the area around Austerlitz in 2025.

In these areas, local hospitality businesses and group accommodation providers suffered (at least temporarily) a loss of turnover, occasionally as much as 30 per cent. In other areas (Veluwe, Drents-Friese Wold), although cancellations did occur, the loss of turnover was more limited and could not always be clearly attributed to wolves.

Activities through which the tourism sector can generate income from the presence of wolves (such as wolf excursions) are still virtually non-existent in the Netherlands. In various other countries where wolves have been living for some time, such as Spain, Germany and the United States, such activities do exist.

According to the researchers, in order to develop a sound and future-proof wolf policy, it is necessary to invest in more accurate and systematic monitoring of the social, economic and ecological impacts of the presence of wolves in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research also highlights the importance of a long-term vision for agriculture and nature in the Netherlands. Questions and dilemmas raised by the presence of wolves in the Netherlands touch on issues such as the Nitrogen Dossier and the Water Framework Directive. Developing a broader vision can lead to better management of potential conflicts and tensions between values and objectives relating to nature and culture, such as, in this case, the tension between recreation, livestock welfare and wolves.

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