18 Wild Animals in the Netherlands [Wild Animals in the Netherlands] (2023)

Learn all about Dutch animals

Ready to learn all about Dutch animals?

I've always been fascinated by animals and how different they can be from country to country. In this guide we will focus on the many animals that the Netherlands has on land, in the air and under water.

I have divided the guide into 4 categories:

• Dutch native animals
• Endangered animals in the Netherlands
• What is the national animal of the Netherlands?
• How many animals are native to the Netherlands?

Let's dive into our first category!

Dutch native animals

The Netherlands is a European country in the northwest of the continent with some overseas territories in the Caribbean. Its name means "low lands" due to its flat topography and generally low elevation (since only about 50 percent of its territory is more than 1 m/3.3 ft above sea level), and it is the second most densely populated country in Europe and the sixteenth. largest in the world. It borders Belgium and Germany, and although its government sits in The Hague, its capital is Amsterdam, which has a population of more than 907,000 (but more than 8,116,000 if you count theRandstad).

An interesting part of the country that I wanted to address is the wildlife. With that in mind, I've listed the best and hope you enjoy learning about how animals live in the Netherlands.

Here is the list of animals from the Netherlands.

1. European hedgehog

• Name: European hedgehog
• Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus
• state of preservation:least concern

The European hedgehog, also known as the Western European hedgehog or common hedgehog, is a species of mammal native to much of Europe and Northwest Asia and Russia. It is a well-known resident of European gardens, where it is valued primarily for its harmless behavior and eating habits, and will devour a variety of garden pests.

This hedgehog is one of the most common animals in Europe and can easily be seen in the Netherlands.

2. European rabbit

• Name: European rabbit
• Scientific name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
• state of preservation:in danger

The European Rabbit, also known as the Coney in the UK, is a species of rabbit native to South West Europe and North West Africa and has been introduced to various other areas of the world includingChile, Australia and the rest of Europe.

All domestic rabbit breeds in the world are descended from the European rabbit. In the Netherlands, one of the most famous native rabbits is the Dutch dwarf, one of the smallest rabbit breeds in the world.

3. Feldhase

• Name: Feldhase
• Scientific name: European rabbit
• state of preservation:least concern

The brown hare, also known as the brown hare, is a species of hare that is native to large parts of Europe and parts of western Asia. It has also been introduced to areas in the northwestern United States, the southern tip of South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

This hare is one of the most hunted animals in Europe and also quite common. With a high reproductive rate, a very wide range, and large numbers, it is considered Least Concern.

4. European hamster

• Name: European hamster
• Scientific name: Hamster Hamster
• state of preservation:critically endangered

The European hamster, also known as the black-bellied hamster, common hamster, or Eurasian hamster, is a small species of rodent native to Eurasia. Although classified as Critically Endangered and Critically Endangered, the reasons for its incredibly rapid decline are unknown, although traps, pollution, and pesticides may play a role.

This hamster lives in yards, gardens, meadows and hedges. Their populations are much more dispersed than they used to be, and their range is steadily decreasing.

5. Lobo

• Name: Lobo
• Scientific name: Wolf
• state of preservation:least concern

The wolf, also known as the gray wolf, is a species of canid native to much of the northern hemisphere and is also one of the most common animals in Europe.

In addition, broken down into a variety of subspecies, it has one of the longest histories of interactions with humans and is sometimes an important part of folklore (known as thelegendary founder of Rome), some others are despised and persecuted for their attacks on livestock.

6. Rotfuchs

• Name: Red fox
• Scientific name: Foxes
• state of preservation:least concern

While wolves are in decline worldwide, the red fox is one of the most widespread carnivores in the world and one of the most successful species in general. This is largely due to its ability to thrive in artificial environments, expanding its range along with urban sprawl.

The fox is an opportunistic and versatile species that can feed on almost anything and live anywhere. Because of this, it inhabits much of the northern hemisphere and has even colonized Australia, where it is considered highly invasive and problematic.

7. Eurasian Nutria

• Name: Eurasian Nutria
• Scientific name: Luther Luther
• state of preservation:almost threatened

The Eurasian river otter, also known as the European river otter, Old World otter, Eurasian river otter, or common river otter, is a species of semi-aquatic mammal native to much of Eurasia, from the southwestern tip of Europe to the shores of Northwest Asia. , as well as the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

This otter is a carnivore that feeds mainly on fish and can be found in the freshwater rivers and lakes of the Netherlands.

8. Cone seal

• Name: gray seal
• Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus
• state of preservation:least concern

The gray seal is one of the most common and widespread finned species in the world. It occurs in the northern part of the Atlantic, mainly on the northwestern coasts of Europe, in the Baltic Sea,Island, and northeastern North America.

Despite its peaceful appearance, it can be a ferocious predator; This carnivore has been known to attack large prey in the Netherlands, sometimes feeding on seals and porpoises!

9. European Badger

• Name: European Badger
• Scientific name: meles meles
• state of preservation:least concern

The European badger is a species of mustelid found throughout Europe and the Middle East. It has a large and stable population and a wide distribution, making it Least Concern and not an endangered species.

In countries like the UK, howeverkill badgerit is still practiced, and thousands of people are often killed. Because of this, their number varies greatly by country and reach.

10. Puffin

• Name: Atlantic parrot
• Scientific name: Fratercula arctica
• state of preservation:Vulnerable

The puffin, also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird native to the northern and northeastern parts of the Atlantic. It is a migratory bird that spends the summer in the northernmost areas and flies to north-west Africa in the winter.

This bird can be found off the 451 km coast of Holland and feeds on fish but will also eat worms, crustaceans and shrimp.

11. White Stork

• Name: White Stork
• Scientific name: Ciconia ciconia
• state of preservation:least concern

The white stork is a large bird species native to much of Eurasia, migrating to the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, and much of sub-Saharan Africa during winter.

There are about 500 white stork pairs left in the Netherlands and reintroduction programs are helping to consolidate this number. Most of these programs are run by volunteers and are very useful for the conservation of one of the most emblematic birds in Europe.

12. Rothirsch

• Name: deer
• Scientific name: Elaphushirsch
• state of preservation:least concern

Although much smaller than the moose, also known as the elk, the red deer is one of the largest deer species in the world and one of the most important and common animal symbols in Europe. Hunted since ancient times for its tasty meat and impressive horns, it is an emblem of nobility.

Most red deer in the Netherlands live in a large herd of around 3,000 individualsOstvaardersplassen, a nature reserve in the central part of the country.

13. Central European wild boar

• Name: Central European wild boar
• Scientific name: Breasts Breasts Breasts
• state of preservation:least concern

In terms of history, distribution, and human interaction, the Central European wild boar is very similar to the red deer. It has been of particular importance in human culture since at least Celtic times, when it was revered and engraved on swords, shields and helmets, as well as on coins, and was also a prime target of European hunters.

The Central European wild boar is medium-sized and is found throughout Europe, often in the forests of the continent, but is particularly diverse in terms of habitat and diet.

14. European mink

• Name: European mink
• Scientific name: Mustela lutreola
• state of preservation:critically endangered

The European mink, also known as Eurasian mink or Russian mink, is a semi-aquatic mustelid species native to much of Europe and Russia. Although very widespread in the past, today it can only be found in southwestern France and northern Spain, eastern Romania and probably other Balkan countries and Russia.

This mink has been in decline since at least the 18th century when it was hunted in various areas of Germany.

15. Risso's Dolphin

• Name: Risso's dolphin
• Scientific name: Grampus griseus
• state of preservation:least concern

Risso's dolphin is a species of dolphin native to coasts around the world except West Africa. It can be found off the coast of the Netherlands and the rest of Europe, and in the Mediterranean where it feeds on cephalopods and fish.

In fact, this dolphin doesn't need its teeth for food, and now they're only used as display weapons in mating conflicts. As a result, males are particularly pronounced all over the body.

16. European mouse

• Name: European mouse
• Scientific name: European mole
• state of preservation:least concern

The European mole, also known as the northern mole or common mole, is one of the most common residents of gardens in the Netherlands. It lives in a complex building system that is constantly expanding, leaving displaced earth on the surface that forms the characteristic mounds.

This mole eats about half its body weight each day (not all of its body weight per day, contrary to popular belief) and feeds on earthworms, shrews, and maggots.

17. Common buzzard

• Name: Common Vulture
• Scientific name: Buteobuteo
• state of preservation:least concern

The vulture is a medium-sized species of raptor with a very wide distribution, native throughout Europe and western Asia and Russia, migrating to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. in the coldest season.

In the Netherlands, this bird feeds primarily on common voles (19.6 percent of its diet), European rabbits (19.1 percent), and hares.

18. Eurasian royal beetle

• Name: Eurasian king owl
• Scientific name: bubo bubo
• state of preservation:least concern

The eagle owl, also known as the eagle owl or eagle owl, is one of the largest species of owls as females can have a wingspan of up to 188 cm / 6 ft 2 in. and grow up to 75 cm tall.

This owl is quite rare in the Netherlands and can be found in the south of the country. Its local past extinction was due to intense persecution, and it first disappeared from the Netherlands in the late 19th century before slowly returning.

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So these were my 18 wild animals from the Netherlands. I hope you enjoyed this list and learned something new today.

If you want to learn more about the animals of the country, do not hesitate to read on because I still have a lot to tell you:

Endangered animals in the Netherlands

This is definitely the saddest part of the list, but it's very important to raise awareness. So let's take a look at the list of endangered animals in the Netherlands.

Here are the endangered animals in the Netherlands.

extinct in the wild

• place of life

critically endangered

• sociable lapwing
• Angel Hai
• mean blue skate
• Atlantic sturgeon
• European mink
• and 7 more...

in danger

• Riesenhai
• European rabbit
• white-headed duck
• Pallas Osprey
• Brombeerhai
• and 3 more...

To see the full list of endangered species in the Netherlands visit theRed List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

What is the national animal of the Netherlands?

The national animal of the Netherlands is the lion.

Suffering from Spanish rule and its Catholic expansion in the 16th century, Dutch Protestants rose up and fought, led by Willem van Oranje-Nassau, which led to an 80-year war.

Its symbol was the lion, and even today it is a very important emblem of the country, although there are no lions in the Netherlands. It appears on the country's coat of arms and national football team's coat of arms and is a powerful symbol of power, freedom and revolution.

How many animals are native to the Netherlands?

What is the diversity of native animals in the Netherlands?

Let's look at the total number of Chordata species (mammals, birds, fish and reptiles).

Total number of animal species in the Netherlands:826(3,149 without total for Europe)

More about the animals of the world!

Do you like these facts about wild animals in the Netherlands? Would you like to see which animals live in other countries?

Then check out these posts:

• wild animals in hungary
• wild animals in luxembourg
• wild animals in belgium

or clickon hereto see ALL dates in the blog! Spoiler alert: there are a lot of them.

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