Almost a quarter of Dutch bee colonies did not survive last winter
A survey by Wageningen University reveals that 24% of Dutch honeybee colonies died during the 2025–2026 winter, marking the fourth consecutive year of high mortality. Researchers noted significant regional variations in survival rates, though the exact causes remain under investigation.
Why it matters
High bee mortality rates threaten agricultural productivity and biodiversity, signaling potential environmental instability.
by Séverine Kotrschal, Wageningen University
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain During the winter of 2025–2026, 24% of Dutch honeybee colonies were lost. The upward trend observed in recent years therefore continues. This is the fourth consecutive year in which winter mortality has exceeded 20%. The figures are based on the annual survey of Dutch beekeepers. The results show substantial regional differences. Groningen recorded the highest winter losses, at 41.5%, while Overijssel had the lowest figure, at 16.9%.
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