The flower bulb area in 2017 amounted to more than 26.000 hectares, a growth of 18% compared to the year 2000. However, the area used for the arable sector suffers as a result. This is according to figures from Statistics Netherlands.
With the above figures, the flower bulb area increases record. The area of tulips shows a growth of 38% and has therefore increased most strongly between 2000 and 2017 (more than 13.000 hectares). That is half of the total area of flower bulbs.
Arable land is suffering
The strong growth of it flower bulb area does have consequences for the area used for the arable sector. In the past 17 years, the arable area has fallen by almost 20% to 509.000 hectares. In 2000, the arable area was still 634.000 hectares. However, in the past 2 years the area for arable farming has increased again.
Erik Arts, business advisor at Countus, also notices that many arable farmers rent out land for flower bulb cultivation (especially in Flevoland). "The reason for this is that it is a well-yielding crop. Flower bulb cultivation also fits well into the rotation and there is a demand for land for cultivation."
Other factors
It is not only the increased flower bulb area that influences the decline in arable land. Factors such as new construction, industry and nature also count. Between 1950 and 2016, more than 550.000 hectares of cultivated land were withdrawn, an average of 8.000 hectares per year.