Thursday, 22
May 2025 - 22:00
Wildfires
surge in the Netherlands as climate change alters vegetation and fuels fires
The
Netherlands is confronting an escalating climate crisis marked by a sharp rise
in wildfires and increasing social vulnerabilities linked to extreme weather
events, experts and government advisers say. Emergency services and climate
researchers warn the country is ill-prepared for the intensifying impacts of
climate change, both in terms of natural disasters and their social
consequences, according to Trouw.
Wildfires in
the Netherlands have surged in number and severity, driven by climate change
and shifting vegetation patterns. In 2023, a notably dry year, the country
recorded 405 wildfires. Despite wetter conditions in 2024 and only 170 fires,
2025 is on track to surpass the dry year’s total. Jelmer Dam, national
coordinator for wildfire management at the Dutch Institute for Public Safety
(NIPV), reported that through April 2025, 328 wildfire reports have already
been logged, with about 80 percent confirmed as actual fires.
Wally
Paridaans of Veiligheidsregio Brabant-Zuidoost, the regional safety authority
for Southeast Brabant, highlighted the evolving wildfire risks. He told Trouw
that climate change is altering vegetation across the country, and new plant
growth burns differently than the older flora firefighters are accustomed to.
Paridaans
pointed to the 2020 wildfire that destroyed roughly 710 hectares of the
Deurnsche Peel peat bogs. Since then, land managers increased water saturation
to reduce fire risk. “Before 2020, many ferns grew there. Now hardly any remain
because the ground is much wetter,” he said. These ferns have largely been
replaced by shrubs and deciduous trees, which generally improve fire safety but
also present new challenges. “The fire brigade has less experience with how
these burn,” Paridaans added.
This shift
in vegetation is not limited to Deurnsche Peel but is seen across his safety
region and reported by nature managers nationwide.
Hans
Cornelissen, systems ecology professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, gave
further examples. The robinia tree, native to North America and introduced to
Europe, is spreading on Dutch sandy soils. “It has very dense wood with high
energy content and flaky bark that ignites easily,” Cornelissen told Trouw,
noting the tree burns intensely.
Another fire
risk is the Douglas fir on the Veluwe, which produces large amounts of
resin-rich dead wood. Cornelissen explained, “There is a lot of oxygen flow,
which encourages fire,” as fallen needles and twigs create an airy forest floor
conducive to combustion.
Climate
change is also causing mass die-offs of black pine trees. Mart Vlam, a forest
ecology researcher at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, told
Trouw the resulting dry, dead wood supports biodiversity by attracting insects
and fungi and enriching soil nutrients but warned, “It is extremely dry and
highly flammable.”
Nitrogen
deposition compounds wildfire risks by promoting uniform vegetation dominated
by grasses, which burn faster than heath, Dam explained. “In virtually any
heathland in the Netherlands, grasses are increasing.”
Vlam added
that forest undergrowth of herbs and grasses is expanding and dries out early
in spring, further increasing fire hazards.
Dam detailed
climate trends intensifying wildfire conditions: “More rainfall falls in
shorter bursts, dry spells are longer and more frequent, and winters are wetter
and milder. This extends the growing season.” Heat and drought dry out grasses,
small plants, and even larger trees, enabling fires to spread faster.
Despite the
rising threat, Dam acknowledged the country is not yet ready. “We are
originally a very wet country with a lot of fuel in our natural areas. Are we
ready? No. But have we started preparing? Yes.” Fire departments have responded
by increasing resources, including deploying large firefighting equipment in
Drunen in April to combat a wildfire.
Alongside
environmental challenges, the Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy
(Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid, WRR) warns government climate
policies focus too narrowly on physical protection, neglecting the social
consequences of extreme weather such as drought, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall.
The WRR
highlights that vulnerable populations — especially those with low incomes or
limited social networks — face disproportionate risks. The council notes
evacuations can increase loneliness, and heatwaves hit harder for students
living in small, warm homes compared to those in comfortable, cool residences.
The council also warns that trust in government and community may erode when
some citizens cannot afford costs tied to damage, like foundation problems
caused by prolonged drought.
Social
cohesion is critical for society to withstand disasters, the WRR states. The
council urges investment in social infrastructure to strengthen community
resilience. It recommends supporting public spaces such as libraries, train
stations, and recreational facilities, which serve as venues for reliable
information, social connection, and “climate shelters” that provide aid and
refuge during emergencies.
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