A falconer has captured an aggressive eagle owl that terrorised a Dutch town by swooping out of the sky and sinking its talons into people's heads.

The bird earned the nickname "terror owl" in Purmerend, 20 kilometres north of Amsterdam where it has attacked around 50 people in the last year.

Some of the bird's victims required hospital treatment to stitch up deep scratches. People took to walking the streets with umbrellas or wearing hats to ward off aerial attacks.

Purmerend municipality hired a falconer to try to solve the problem and today officials announced the bird had been caught.

The owl was said to be in good health and was awaiting a suitable new home.

Alderman Mario Hegger said the municipality would have preferred to leave the "magnificent bird of prey" alone but "it became too risky".