Record Dutch drought threatens wildlife as light rain offers no relief

Thursday, 22 May 2025 - 12:00

https://nltimes.nl/2025/05/22/record-dutch-drought-threatens-wildlife-light-rain-offers-relief

Record Dutch drought threatens wildlife as light rain offers no relief

 

The Netherlands is in the midst of its driest spring since recordkeeping began, and bird conservation groups are warning of serious consequences for nature. The extreme drought is drying out wetlands and meadows, leaving tens of thousands of birds struggling to find food and build nests.

 

Bird protection organization Vogelbescherming Nederland (Dutch Society for the Protection of Birds) says many birds that depend on moist soil and a steady supply of insects are at risk. Key habitats like marshes, fens, and pastures are drying up, making it difficult for ground-foraging birds to survive.

 

“This spring is the driest ever measured in the Netherlands, and the habitat of birds is under pressure,” said Bernard de Jong of Vogelbescherming. “Marshes, fens and pastures are drying out, and the number of available insects and soil-dwelling animals is declining.”

 

He explained that species such as the black-tailed godwit, lapwing, and redshank are finding it harder to find worms and insects as the ground becomes harder and drier.

 

“When the ground becomes rock hard, worms go deeper underground, and birds can no longer reach them with their beaks,” he said. “Many birds also prefer to build their nests with slightly moist material, and dried-out clay doesn’t help with that either.”

 

Although scattered rain showers and cooler air are forecast in the coming days, the precipitation will be too limited to reverse the damage already done. A cold northwesterly wind continues to push clouds and occasional rain across the Netherlands, but most regions are seeing little more than passing showers.

 

On Thursday, early rain fell mainly across the northern provinces, while light showers passed over parts of the south, according to weeronline. The rest of the day will bring a mix of clouds and sunshine, with brief showers expected primarily in the north and northeast. Most other areas will remain dry. Afternoon temperatures will range from 13 to 17 degrees, though a steady northwesterly wind will make it feel colder.

 

Later in the evening, skies will clear in the west, but new showers will move in from the north. The southern provinces, including Noord-Brabant and Limburg, should stay mostly dry until the overnight hours, when rain is expected to spread southward. Winds along the coast will remain strong, reaching gusts up to 5 or 6 Beaufort, while inland winds will weaken to around 1 or 2 Beaufort. Overnight lows will drop to between 3 and 9 degrees, with the highest values near the coast.

 

Friday will see scattered showers across the country, especially in the northeast. Thunderstorms are possible in some areas. Morning temperatures will start between 10 and 13 degrees, and afternoon highs will reach only 13 to 16 degrees—well below the seasonal norm of 17 to 21 degrees. A persistent northwesterly wind will continue to blow at 3 or 4 Beaufort inland and up to 5 or 6 along the coast and around the IJsselmeer.

 

By Friday afternoon, the showers will begin to move east into Germany, with skies gradually clearing from the west. Most of the country will remain dry by evening, although a few isolated showers may persist. During the night to Saturday, a band of high clouds will spread eastward across the country, but rain is not expected. Overnight lows will range from 5 to 7 degrees inland and 8 to 10 degrees at the coast.

 

Saturday is expected to begin dry. Some sunshine may break through high cloud cover in the east early in the day, but thicker cloud cover will dominate elsewhere. By the afternoon, rain will move in from the west. Ahead of the rain, parts of the east may reach 18 degrees, while temperatures in rainy areas will remain around 14 degrees. Saturday evening may bring a brief dry spell, but new rain is forecast during the night to Sunday.

 

On Sunday, the rain will move eastward into Germany. In its wake, sunshine will return from the west. Some isolated showers may linger inland, but these will gradually diminish through the afternoon. Highs will climb slightly, reaching 18 or 19 degrees. Winds will shift from the west to southwest at 4 or 5 Beaufort.

 

From Friday through Sunday, total rainfall will range from 10 to 20 millimeters across most of the country, with localized totals up to 25 millimeters. Despite this, the precipitation will reportedly not be enough to offset the effects of the extreme drought.

 

De Jong stressed that short bursts of rain are not enough to solve the bird crisis. “An occasional shower is not enough to solve the problems,” he said. “It is essential to seriously adapt how we design and use the land. Governments, water boards, and land users must work together to revise water management strategies and invest in natural climate buffers that retain water. These areas don’t just help birds—they also make the Netherlands more resilient to climate change.”

 

Reporting by ANP and NL Times