Goat population has increased nearly fivefold since 2000

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In 2025, there were 592 thousand goats kept on goat farms in the Netherlands. That is almost five times as many as in 2000, when there were 126 thousand goats. The number has remained roughly the same over the past five years. The largest number of goats are kept in the eastern and central parts of the country, mainly for milk production. This is according to the latest agricultural census figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The number of goats has increased since 2000, with the exception of 2010, when goats were culled due to a large outbreak of Q fever. In addition to the animals on farms classified as goat farms, at least 37 thousand goats are kept on other types of holdings. In total, 629 thousand goats were registered at agricultural holdings in 2025.

Rising number of goats per farm

Both the number of goats and the number of farms classified as goat farms have increased since the year 2000. However, the number of goats grew faster than the number of farms. There were 413 farms where goats were kept for dairy or meat production in 2025, compared to 287 in 2000.

The number of goats per farm rose more sharply during the same period. In 2025, the average number of animals per farm was 1,434, unchanged from 2020. In 2000, the number was much lower at 438.

Average number of goats per goat farm Average number of goats per goat farm 2,000 438 goats 2025 1,434 goats Average number of goats per goat farm 2,000 438 goats 2025 1,434 goats

Largest numbers of goats in eastern and central parts of the country

The largest number of goats are kept in the eastern and central parts of the Netherlands. In 2025, there were 141 goats per square kilometre in Alphen-Chaam, the largest number of any municipality in the country. The other municipalities with more than 100 goats per square kilometre were Renswoude, Culemborg, Beuningen, Maasdriel and Maashorst.

There are also 40 municipalities where there are no goats are registered at agricultural holdings.

Higher production of goat milk

Around three-quarters of goats are kept for milk production. The total amount of goat milk delivered to dairy processing companies in 2024 was 459 million kilograms, compared to 402 million kilograms in 2020. Part of this was used to produce 27 million kilograms of goat cheese. The amount of goat cheese produced in 2024 is not known.

In addition to milk, goats are also kept for meat production. In 2024, 211 thousand goats were slaughtered, which resulted in a total of nearly 3 million kilograms of meat.

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