The area dedicated to greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands was reduced last year by 485 hectares, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the Dutch portal Nieuwe Oogst reported on April 16.
Especially the area cultivated with greenhouse vegetables has decreased. The total greenhouse area in the Netherlands last year was 10,151 hectares, and in 2022, 10,636 hectares. The area of floriculture crops in greenhouses decreased from 4,206 hectares to 4,085 hectares.
Additionally, CBS data shows that planting area in the world’s largest contiguous greenhouse horticulture region, Westland, declined for the second year in a row. In 2023, 2,497 hectares will remain under greenhouses.
Industry experts say that small businesses in the Netherlands are disappearing. The number of gardeners in Westland has fallen significantly since 2005, according to data published by the country’s statistics office. 900 companies disappeared in 2023 and 619 in 2023.
If we look at the fifteen largest horticultural municipalities in the Netherlands, we will see that the number of greenhouse gardeners has decreased almost everywhere. At the same time, not only the production of fruits and vegetables is decreasing, but also that of flowers. Thus, the number of producers dedicated to growing flowers has decreased drastically: from 5,071 farms in 2005 to 1,755 in 2023.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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