Asian Hornet Nest Removal in Netherlands and Belgium

Two Asian hornet nests were removed in Nijkerk, Netherlands on 20 July using an industrial vacuum with fine‑mesh filtration, a method funded by Gelderland province and carried out by the local beekeepers association, the municipality and provincial authorities. The removal aimed to prevent the invasive species from establishing large colonies that threaten honeybees and biodiversity.

In East Flanders, Belgium, a free nest‑control program has been launched by the municipality of Herzele in partnership with the province and the environmental organization RATO vzw. Residents are asked to report sightings through the Vespa‑Watch website or app; trained personnel will inspect and, where possible, remove nests from May to October 2026. The initiative seeks to limit the spread of the Asian hornet, which preys on honeybees and other pollinators and is listed as an invasive exotic on the EU watch list.