When you think of animals in the Netherlands, your mind may drift to house pets or animals in zoos, but you can find a whole range of wonderful Dutch wildlife in national parks or even roaming around your neighbourhood! But which animals are most associated with the Netherlands? And which creatures are you most likely to see in the wild here? Let’s dive in, because they’re not necessarily the same! 

The Netherlands’ national animal

If you’ve seen the Netherlands’ coat of arms, you probably have a good clue about which mane-wearing creature is the national animal. You can see the coat of arms on every website related to the government of the Netherlands, so if you’ve visited one, you have probably seen the Dutch national animal!

What is the Netherlands’ national animal?

The national animal of the Netherlands is the lion. As a symbol of strength and power, the lion has been on the Netherlands’ coat of arms since the 16th and 17th centuries, when the country became independent. On the Dutch coat of arms, you can see two lions standing on a mantel with a shield and crown. The shield itself bears yet another lion wearing a crown, holding a sword on one side and a bundle of seven arrows on the other.