Most Dutch goat farms too close to schools and care facilities, raising health risks

A majority of goat farms in the Netherlands are situated so close to schools, childcare centers, and care facilities that nearby residents face elevated health risks, according to a new analysis reported by Financieele Dagblad (FD).

The investigation found that 60 percent of goat farms are less than one kilometer from such institutions, and 20 percent are within just half a kilometer. Residents living within one kilometer of a goat farm have a 19 percent higher risk of developing pneumonia, while those living less than 500 meters away face a 73 percent higher risk.

FD compiled the findings using business registrations from 368 goat farms combined with a list of “sensitive destinations,” locations defined by the Dutch Health Council as places where people spend extended periods, such as schools, childcare facilities, and care institutions. These sites often host vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly.

Earlier this month, the Health Council called for measures to reduce the health risks. “Think especially of vulnerable people, such as children or elderly people. They should not live there. And you also do not want schools or daycare centers there,” Health Council Chair Karien Stronks told NOS.

The council has not identified the exact mechanism causing higher pneumonia rates but notes that it likely involves a combination of fine particulate matter, endotoxins, and microorganisms traveling through the air or via human contact from the farms.

The analysis showed that the province of Noord-Brabant has the highest number of sensitive institutions near goat farms. The newspaper reported that 145 institutions are located close to 62 goat farms, with 29 institutions situated within half a kilometer of a farm.

Lidwien Smit, a professor of environmental epidemiology at Utrecht University, told FD that business registration data provide a general overview but do not fully capture the locations of animals and stables. “There is no perfect dataset, that is the challenge with this type of research,” she said.