Noord-Holland goose damage stabilizes after years of growth

Damage caused by greylag geese to spring grass in Noord-Holland appears to have stabilized for the first time after years of significant growth. Preliminary figures from BIJ12 indicate that between November 1, 2025, and July 4, 2026, total damage amounted to approximately €8.2 million, which is roughly €97,000 less than the same period in 2025.

This stabilization follows the province's decision to expand intensive goose management from Texel to the entire province this spring. On Texel, where intensive management has been in place for several years, the results are more pronounced: the greylag goose population decreased by 44 percent in the July 2026 count compared to 2025, and spring grass damage fell by 28 percent.

Provincial official Jelle Beemsterboer noted that while the intensive management plan only began this February, the first cautious results are already visible. Although damage was reported on more individual plots this year, the total financial impact did not continue its previous upward trend.