Netherlands proposes radical plans to cut livestock numbers by almost a third

Dutch farmers could be forced to sell land and reduce the amount of animals they keep to help lower ammonia pollution

Cattle grazing in the Dutch neighbourhood of Bleskensgraaf. Picture: iStock

Dutch politicians are considering plans to force hundreds of farmers to sell up and cut livestock numbers, to reduce damaging ammonia pollution.

After the highest Dutch administrative court found in 2019 that the government was breaking EU law by not doing enough to reduce excess nitrogen in vulnerable natural areas, the country has been battling what it is calling a “nitrogen crisis”.