Dutch Honeybee Colony Winter Mortality Reaches 24% in 2025–2026, Fourth Consecutive Year Above 20%
Phys.org Biology ·
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1 min read ·
Medical & Life Sciences
Read research and analysis on Dutch Honeybee Colony Winter Mortality Reaches 24% in 2025–2026, Fourth Consecutive Year Above 20% published by ICANEWS, a global research journal for emerging researchers.
Key Takeaways
24% of Dutch honeybee colonies were lost during the winter of 2025–2026.
This marks the fourth consecutive year winter mortality has exceeded 20%.
Winter losses showed substantial regional differences, from 16.9% in Overijssel to 41.5% in Groningen.
Why This Matters
The continued upward trend and persistent high winter mortality rates for Dutch honeybee colonies, consistently above 20% for four years, indicate a recurring challenge for beekeeping in the region. Regional variations highlight localized factors that may contribute to these discrepancies.
Overview
During the winter period of 2025–2026, 24% of honeybee colonies in the Netherlands did not survive. This figure represents a continuation of an observed upward trend in recent years. The winter of 2025–2026 marks the fourth consecutive year that winter mortality among Dutch honeybee colonies has exceeded 20%.
Research Context
The reported figures are derived from an annual survey conducted among Dutch beekeepers. This survey serves as the basis for tracking winter mortality rates of honeybee colonies within the Netherlands.
Findings
In the winter of 2025–2026, 24% of Dutch honeybee colonies were lost.
This percentage contributes to a continuing upward trend in winter mortality observed over recent years.
The 2025–2026 winter represents the fourth consecutive year during which winter mortality rates have been above 20%.
Substantial regional differences in winter losses were recorded across the Netherlands.
Groningen reported the highest winter losses, with a figure of 41.5%.
Overijssel registered the lowest winter losses, at 16.9%.
Research Information
Institution
Phys.org Biology (as a publisher, not an institution conducting research)