North Brabant to revoke nature permits for five poultry farms

The province of North Brabant announced plans to withdraw nature permits from five poultry farms located near the De Peel and Kampina nature areas, including sites in Helenaveen and Neerkant. The move follows a court‑ordered collaboration between the province, the environmental group Mobilisation for the Environment (MOB) and the farmers that failed to produce a plan sufficient to lower nitrogen emissions.

ZLTO, the livestock sector organization, condemned the decision, calling it “asocial” and criticizing the province for acting before a final agreement with the farmers. Agriculture minister Jaimi van Essen described the revocation as a legacy of prolonged inaction on the nitrogen dossier, calling the measure “heavy‑handed” and urging rapid parliamentary approval of additional measures to protect nature and prevent further permit withdrawals.