National beached bird surveys were carried out in February 1985 and 1986, being nos. 20 and 21 in a series of surveys, beginning in 1965 (Camphuysen 1985). Both in 1985 and ’ the winter was rather severe, with inland lakes and canals being frozen over for several weeks; the IJsselmeer was covered with ice during 44 and 37 days respectively. The proportion of coastline surveyed in 1985 was 50% (n= 670 km), resulting into large numbers of corpses (14.4/km) and a tremendous variety of species (76 birdspecies). Most numerous were Guillemot (13.9%, n= 4887), Oystercatcher (13.4%) and Eider Duck (9.6%). Birdspecies and numbers found are given in tables la and 2. In 1986 42% of the entire coast was surveyed, with rather large numbers being found (6.6/km) and 52 different species identified. Most common species were Oystercatcher (18.3%, n= 1838), Guillemot (16.9%) and, exceptionally, Scaup (12.6%). Six Pomarine Skuas found are but the remains of an influx and wreck of the species in November and December 1985 in the southern North Sea. Species and numbers of birds found in the 1986 survey are given in tables lb and 2. there is quite a difference in species and numbers of birds found. Typical ’winter-victims’, such as Great Crested Grebe, diving ducks, waders, Larus-gulls and Coot, were found in great numbers in 1985, in 1986 only the number of Scaups was remarkable. Future comparison of beached bird surveys carried out in severe winters, such as in 1978/79, 1981/82 and the two discussed here, are recommended. Following the trends found during 1965-84 (Camphuysen 1985), divers again were scarce (in 1985 and ’86 0.08 and 0.04/km respectively), but scoters were found to be rather common (0.41 and 0.51 respectively). Probably partly as a result of cold weather conditions, Larus-gulls, again, were common (1.44 and 0.76/km respectively). Kittiwakes were slightly less numerous as was common use during the eighties (0.40 and 0,37/km respectively), but were still much more often found than during the sixties and seventies. The number of Razorbills found was not exceptional (0.16 and 0.22/km respectively), but again the Guillemot showed to be a very common oil victim in the Netherlands, as it had repeatedly shown in the early eighties (2.02 and 1.05/km respectively).