Wolf population grows in Netherlands amid calls for active management

At least 56 wolf pups were born this spring in the Netherlands, according to monitoring data from BIJ12. The births were recorded via wild cameras, with 37 pups in Gelderland, 13 in Drenthe, and 6 in Utrecht. Experts note that the total number of wolves in the country is difficult to estimate precisely because they travel long distances and frequently cross borders.

Public opinion regarding the wolf population is shifting toward active management. A 2026 opinion poll commissioned by the Royal Dutch Hunters Association indicates that 75 percent of Dutch citizens support some form of active management in rural areas. Specifically, 47 percent favor annual hunting, while 28 percent wish to reduce the population to zero. Only 24 percent believe nature should be left to take its course without intervention.

Furthermore, 64 percent of respondents believe the government should establish a maximum number of wolves, and 55 percent support designating specific areas where wolves are permitted to reside. The data suggests a growing preference for a middle ground where wolves exist in the country but are regulated and confined to certain regions.