The Netherlands' Agriculture Ministry has lifted an order keeping domestic poultry indoors, as fears over an outbreak of bird flu eased.
More than 13,000 dead wild birds have been tested in the Netherlands since February, and none have showed signs of H5N1, according to a ministry spokesman.
Holland was the first country to order all commercial birds indoors without waiting for European guidelines. The European Union Commission said then that the move was an "overreaction," but later ordered similar measures.
Germany, Britain, Denmark and France, have all reported cases of birds infected with the H5N1 strain that is potentially lethal for humans.
The Agriculture Ministry attributed its disease free status to both good luck and good planning.
"Naturally there were the measures we took, and maybe that had its effect, but you can also say we were just lucky," said ministry spokeswoman Nynke van der Zee.
At least 113 humans have died from H5N1 since 2003 as it spread from Asia to Europe and Africa.
AP