Which spiders do you see in the Netherlands?
I regularly get panic phones, especially in autumn: “Johan, there is a huge spider in my house!” People are scared, especially of those big brown spiders. But let me reassure you: all spiders in the Netherlands are harmless. Still, I understand the fright. Let me explain which spiders you encounter.
The Big House Spider: The Number 1 Scare Response
This is the spider most people mean when they say “there's a huge spider”. The large house spider (Eratigena atrica) can have a wingspan of 10-15 centimetres. Yes, really. Including its legs, as big as the palm of your hand.
What does it look like? Brown to grey, hairy, long thin legs, quick movements. It runs quickly across the floor or wall, often in a straight line. If you try to catch it, it sprints away - this spider is surprisingly fast.
Where do you see it? On the floor (especially at night), in the bathtub or sink (they can't climb up smooth walls and fall in), behind furniture, in dark corners.
Is he dangerous? Absolutely not. He does have venomous bites, but his jaws are too weak to bite through human skin. And it doesn't want to bite anyway - it runs away when you get close.
Cross spider: The garden spider coming in
You probably know the cross spider (Araneus diadematus) by heart. It makes those beautiful, large webs in the garden. The spider itself is thick and round, orange-brown with a white cross pattern on its back. Females can get quite fat - sometimes as big as a thumb nail.
Why inside? Mostly by accident. They are attracted by light or blown inside. They also look for a sheltered place to hibernate in autumn.
Behaviour: This spider usually stays in its web. If you bother it, it retreats or lowers itself on a thread. It is not aggressive and does not try to bite.
Corner spiders: The Little Webmakers
Corner spiders are a group of spiders you recognise by their webs in corners of rooms. The webs are irregular and dusty (house mothers call them “cobwebs”). The spiders themselves are small - 5-10 millimetres, brown or grey.
Where do you see them? In corners of ceilings, behind cupboards, in barns, in attics, in basements. Anywhere they are left alone.
These spiders often live in the same place for years. They hang upside down in their web and wait for an insect to fly into it. Completely harmless and actually quite useful - they eat mosquitoes, flies and other small insects.
Wolfspider: The Hunter Without a Web
Wolf spiders are hunters. They do not make a web, but actively walk around looking for prey. In the Netherlands, we have smaller species - 1-2 centimetres body length, brown-grey striped.
Where do you see them? On the ground, under stones in the garden, among leaves. They rarely come inside, but when they do, you see them running across the floor.
Recognition: Sturdy legs, good eyes (eight eyes in three rows), fast movements. They run and jump - very different behaviour from house spiders.
Last week, I had a customer who thought he had a tarantula. I came to check: just a big wolf spider. Big by Dutch standards, but totally harmless.
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Are spiders dangerous in the Netherlands?
This is the question I get most often. And the answer is simple: no, no spider in the Netherlands is dangerous to humans. But let me explain why people are afraid, and what is and is not true.
Toxicity: Yes, But Not For You
All spiders have venom. They use this to paralyse their prey - insects, mosquitoes, flies. But spider venom is made specifically for insects, not for large animals like humans.
Can they bite? Technically yes, but it almost never happens. Why not?
Their jaws are too weak: Most Dutch spiders cannot bite through human skin. Their chelicerae (poison jaws) are just not strong enough.
They don't want to bite: Spiders are shy. If they see you coming, they run away. Biting is their last resort - only if they are completely cornered.
Their venom does not work on humans: Even if a spider bit you, at most you would get a small red spot - like a mosquito bite. No swelling, no fever, no danger.
Allergies: Can They Prevent?
Some people are allergic to spiders. Not to their venom (because they don't bite you), but to their hair and droppings. This can lead to sneezing fits, itchy eyes, asthma attacks in sensitive people.
When is this a problem? When you have a lot of spiders in your house, and especially when you leave cobwebs. Those old webs collect dust, excrement, and hair. If you are allergic to them, you need to remove them regularly.
But this is rare. Most people do not suffer from spider allergies.
Fear Versus Reality
Many people have an irrational fear of spiders - we call it arachnophobia. It is one of the most common phobias. People who have it may panic at the sight of a spider.
I get it. Spiders look scary with their eight legs and quick movements. But it's important to know that the fear is worse than the danger. Because there is no danger.
If you are really afraid of spiders, and it hinders your life, consider therapy. There are treatments that really help. Meanwhile, I can help you keep your home spider-free so that you have less to do with them.
The Truth About Poisonous Spiders
I often hear stories about “poisonous spiders that have come to the Netherlands”. Usually it is about the fiddler spider or the brown recluse spider. Let me be honest: these spiders do not occur in the Netherlands.
Yes, sometimes an exotic spider is found in a load of bananas or grapes. But these do not survive our winters and cannot establish a population. The chances of encountering such a spider are astronomically small.
All the spiders you just come across in your home are native Dutch species. And they are all harmless.
Why do spiders come in?
Good thing you asked! Because spiders don't just come in. They have reasons, and if you understand them, you can better keep them out. Let me explain.
They Hunt Insects
Here's the main reason. Spiders eat insects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, silverfish, little keverties. If your house has lots of insects, it attracts spiders. Because where there is food, spiders go.
What does this mean? If you see a lot of spiders, you probably also have a lot of insects. You may not see those insects (they are small or nocturnal), but the spiders do.
Ironically, spiders are actually useful. They eat the insects you don't want. But I get that you don't necessarily want spiders as roommates.
Season: Especially in autumn
September and October are peak months for spiders in the home. Why? Because that is mating season. Males start looking for females and are actively running around. That's when you see those big house spiders running across the floor.
Spiders also seek a sheltered place to hibernate in autumn. Your house is warm and dry - perfect for a spider to get through the winter.
In spring, young spiders hatch from their eggs. This is when you sometimes see masses of tiny spiders. They then disperse - some outside, others stay inside.
Heat And Drought
Spiders like warm, dry places. That's why you often see them in houses that are well heated and insulated. They look for places like behind radiators, in cupboards, in attics, in crawl spaces.
In winter, when it is cold and wet outside, spiders come inside because it is more comfortable there. In summer, on the other hand, they are fine outside, and fewer stay inside.
Cracks And Openings: How Do They Get In?
Spiders are good at getting in through small openings. Where do they enter?
Windows and doors: Through cracks along window frames, under doors, through open windows.
Vents: Via gratings without fine mesh.
Wall chinks: Especially in old houses with cracks in joints.
Via plants: If you bring plants in from outside, there may be spiders on them.
Via stuff: Boxes from the shed, wood for the fireplace, Christmas decorations from the attic - there can be spiders in everything.
How to prevent spiders
Want less spiders in your home? My practical tips:
Reduce insects: Fewer insects = less food = fewer spiders. Use screens, keep your house clean, throw away food scraps.
Seal gaps: Seal gaps around windows and doors, use draught strips, place fine mesh in front of vents.
Vacuum regularly: Especially in corners, behind furniture, under beds. Also vacuum away cobwebs - then spiders will move away on their own.
Reduce clutter: Spiders love clutter - boxes, piles of stuff, full cupboards. The more tidy, the fewer hiding places.
Use natural repellents: Spiders don't like the smell of peppermint, lavender, citrus. You can use these scents at windows and doors. But beware: this does not work perfectly, it is more discouragement than real repellent.
Check stuff before you bring it in: Wood, boxes, plants - check them for spiders before going inside.
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Are spiders useful (Johan's opinion)
You may find it strange for me to say this, but: spiders are actually quite useful. As a pest controller, I am there to control pests, but spiders fall into a grey area. Let me explain why.
They Eat Mosquitoes, Flies And Other Pests
Spiders are natural pest controllers. They eat the very insects you don't want: mosquitoes that keep you awake at night, flies that land on your food, moths that eat your clothes, silverfish that damage your books.
How much do they eat? An average spider eats 2-3 insects a day. If you have 10 spiders in your house (which is quite normal), together they eat 20-30 insects a day. That's hundreds a month. Without those spiders, you would be much more bothered by other insects.
In some countries, spiders are therefore deliberately kept in the home. Not as pets, but as natural mosquito fighters. In the Netherlands, we are less fans of this, but the principle is sound.
They Do No Harm
Unlike other pests, spiders do no damage to your home. They don't eat wood like woodworm, they don't gnaw on cables like mice, they don't contaminate food like flies.
The only “problem” are cobwebs. These look messy, and collect dust. But that's more of a cosmetic problem than real damage. You just vacuum them away.
When Do Spiders Get Too Much?
Okay, spiders are useful. But when does it become a problem? When do you need to take action?
If you are really scared of it: Arachnophobia is serious. If you panic at the sight of a spider, you should not have to tolerate them in your home. If so, I am happy to help you keep them away.
If too many become: A few spiders is normal. But if you see dozens, or if every corner is full of webs, you probably have an underlying problem (too many insects they eat).
If you see them in unwanted places: In your bedroom, in the kids' room, in the kitchen - some places you just want to keep spider-free. This is legitimate.
In commercial spaces: In shops, hotels, restaurants, you don't want visible spiders or webs. Customers find that dirty and messy. That's where you should actively keep them out.
Johan's Honest Advice
Here's my honest advice: if you have 1-2 spiders in your house, leave them alone. They are doing useful work. Vacuum away their webs if they are disruptive, but the spiders themselves can stay.
But if you are bothered by spiders - either because there are too many of them, or because you are afraid of them - I am happy to help. We can make your home spider-proof by sealing gaps, controlling insects (preventing spiders from finding food), and applying preventive treatment.
The most important thing is to feel comfortable in your own home. If spiders get in the way of that, that's reason enough to take action.
Frequently asked questions about Spiders
These are the questions I get most often about spiders in the house. Is your question not among them? Feel free to call me for personal advice.
No, large spiders in the Netherlands are not dangerous. The large house spider may look scary with its 10-15 cm wingspan, but it is completely harmless. It cannot bite through human skin, nor does it want to - it runs away when you get close. Its venom only works on small insects, not humans. All spiders in the Netherlands are harmless to humans. The fear of large spiders is understandable but not rational - they are more afraid of you than you need to be afraid of them.
Technically, spiders can bite, but it almost never happens. Most Dutch spiders have jaws that are too weak to bite through human skin. And even if they were to bite, they would only bite as a very last resort - when they are completely trapped and no escape is possible. I have never seen a real spider bite in 20 years. What people sometimes think is a spider bite often turns out to be a mosquito bite or itching from something else. Spiders are shy and avoid contact with people.
In autumn (especially September and October), you see more spiders indoors for two reasons. First, it is mating season - males are actively walking around looking for females, which is why you see them faster. Second, spiders are looking for a warm, sheltered place to hibernate. Your house is warm and dry, perfect for a spider to get through the winter. That's why you often see those big house spiders running across the floor in autumn. They are not new spiders - they were already there, but now they are more active and visible.
Yes, spiders are actually quite useful! They eat insects you don't want: mosquitoes, flies, moths, silverfish. An average spider eats 2-3 insects a day. If you have 10 spiders in your house, together they eat 600-900 insects a month. Without those spiders, you would be much more bothered by other insects. Spiders also do no damage - they don't eat wood, gnaw on cables, contaminate food. The only 'problem' are their webs, which you can just vacuum away. Still, I understand that not everyone wants to tolerate spiders, especially in bedrooms or if you are afraid of them.
To prevent spiders: first reduce their food by repelling insects with mosquito nets and a clean house. Seal gaps around windows and doors with sealant and draught strips. Vacuum regularly, especially in corners and behind furniture - also vacuum away webs. Clear away clutter as spiders love hiding places. Place fine mesh in front of vents. If necessary, use natural repellents such as peppermint or lavender oil near windows (but this works moderately). Check items from outside (wood, boxes, plants) before bringing them inside. If this doesn't help and you keep seeing lots of spiders, you probably have an insect problem that needs to be solved first.
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