Kootwijkerbroek, Netherlands – Twenty-five years after a devastating foot-and-mouth disease (MKD) outbreak led to the culling of over 60,000 animals in and around the village of Kootwijkerbroek, lingering distrust of the government and questions about the handling of the crisis continue to surface, now influencing the current debate surrounding nitrogen reduction policies in the Netherlands. Marianne Zwagerman, writing in De Telegraaf on February 26, 2026, likened the current political climate to a game of Monopoly, suggesting a cycle of “back to start, free money, and not to jail.”
The 2001 MKD crisis remains a deeply sensitive topic for farmers in the region. The mass slaughter of livestock, intended to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus, caused significant economic hardship and left a lasting psychological scar. According to reporting from Omroep Gelderland, the trauma of that period is easily reawakened by any renewed threat of animal disease, such as the recent concerns stemming from outbreaks in Germany.
Recent legal challenges have attempted to revisit the decisions made during the 2001 crisis. On January 18, 2022, the College of Appeal for the Business Organization (CBb), the highest economic court in the Netherlands, definitively ruled against the final objections raised by a farmer in Kootwijkerbroek, confirming the legitimacy of the livestock culling. This ruling, however, did little to quell the doubts held by many in the community who believe the extent of the outbreak was exaggerated or that errors were made in the testing procedures. The farmer, described as a “forgotten veehouder” (cattle farmer), argued that the initial tests on a calf were inconsistent – sometimes negative, sometimes positive – raising questions about the accuracy of the diagnosis.
The persistent skepticism surrounding the MKD outbreak is now impacting the current nitrogen debate. Farmers involved in the ongoing discussions are demanding greater transparency from the government regarding diagnoses, compensation, and policy decisions, drawing parallels between the perceived lack of openness during the MKD crisis and the current situation. They are seeking acknowledgement of their experiences and a more collaborative approach to policy-making. Gerrit Top, a dairy farmer in Kootwijkerbroek, told ND in January 2025 that the fear of another outbreak runs deep, and that a recurrence of MKD would “open traditional wounds.”
The CBb’s 2022 ruling was not the first time the legitimacy of the 2001 culling had been upheld. A similar decision was made in early 2020, though it did not include one particular farmer, allowing for this final appeal. Despite the court’s repeated affirmations, the belief that MKD was not present in Kootwijkerbroek persists among some residents and farmers.
