Top 5 Boerenbusiness
Which municipality has the youngest farmers?
There are a total of 55.681 farmers in the Netherlands, 2.050 of whom are younger than 35 years of age. This means that less than 4% of all Dutch farmers are under the age of 35. But in which municipality do we find many young farmers? That gives a new Top 5 of Boerenbusiness, compiled by CBS, answer to.
Most young farmers can be found in the Noordoostpolder municipality, namely 49 farmers. However, that is only 6% of the total number of farmers in that municipality. That is because there are 843. Will that municipality still end up in the top 5?
10,6
procent
The top 5
The gold medal is for the municipality of Neder-Betuwe, Gelderland. That municipality has a total of 216 farmers. Of these, 23 are farmers under the age of 35. This means that 10,6% of farmers in Neder-Betuwe are younger than 35 years old.
In second place is the municipality of Zaltbommel, Gelderland. A total of 188 farmers are active in that municipality. Of that number, 17 farmers are under the age of 35. This brings the percentage to 9% of the total number of farmers in Zaltbommel.
The lowest step is completed by the municipality of West Maas en Waal, Gelderland. There one finds a total of 179 farmers. Of these, 15 farmers are younger than 35 years old. The municipality of West Maas en Waal thus arrives at a percentage of 8,3%.
The municipality of Krimpenerwaard, South Holland, falls just short of the podium. A total of 279 farmers are active in this municipality. Of these, 21 are 35 years of age or younger. That makes a percentage of 7,5% of the total.
7,5
procent
The fifth, and also last, place is for the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, South Holland. 133 farmers are active in that municipality. Of those 133, 10 are who are 35 years of age or younger. This brings the municipality to a percentage of 7,5%. That seems to be the same as the municipality of Krimpenerwaard. However, that municipality scores 0,01% higher than the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp.
The bottom of the list
The municipality of Bronckhorst is in last place in the overall ranking. That municipality has a total of 617 active farmers. Of these, only 11 are under the age of 35. That is a percentage of 1,7%. This puts the municipality firmly at the bottom of the list.
The municipality of Berkelland is also quite low in the list. This municipality has no fewer than 714 farmers, but only 15 of them are under the age of 35. That makes a percentage of 2,1%.
Municipalities with the highest percentage of young farmers (0-35 years, in 2016)
| Township | Number of farmers under 35 years old | Total number of farmers | Percentage of farmers younger than 35 years |
| Neder-Betuwe | 23 | 216 | 10,65 |
| Zaltbommel | 17 | 188 | 9,04 |
| West Maas en Waal | 15 | 179 | 8,38 |
| Krimpenerwaard | 21 | 279 | 7,53 |
| Pijnacker-Nootdorp | 10 | 133 | 7,52 |
| Midden-Delfland | 10 | 138 | 7,25 |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | 11 | 153 | 7,19 |
| Staphorst | 24 | 341 | 7,04 |
| Alkmaar | 10 | 154 | 6,49 |
| Barneveld | 36 | 556 | 6,47 |
| Tholen | 16 | 248 | 6,45 |
| Epe | 11 | 172 | 6,40 |
| Geldermalsen | 15 | 238 | 6,30 |
| littenseradiel | 14 | 225 | 6,22 |
| Schagen | 20 | 322 | 6,21 |
| Nijkerk | 10 | 162 | 6,17 |
| Haaren | 10 | 167 | 5,99 |
| Noordoostpolder | 49 | 843 | 5,81 |
| Alphen-Chaam | 12 | 207 | 5,80 |
| Zederick | 11 | 194 | 5,67 |
| Goeree-Overflakkee | 18 | 320 | 5,63 |
| Neerijnen | 10 | 178 | 5,62 |
| Uden | 10 | 179 | 5,59 |
| Buren | 18 | 327 | 5,50 |
| Nieuwkoop | 13 | 242 | 5,37 |
| Medemblik | 18 | 337 | 5,34 |
| Zeewolde | 13 | 247 | 5,26 |
| Echt-Susteren | 10 | 192 | 5,21 |
| Woerden | 11 | 220 | 5,00 |
| Kampen | 15 | 302 | 4,97 |
| Weststellingwerf | 15 | 311 | 4,82 |
| Tytsjerksteradiel | 10 | 209 | 4,78 |
| Losser | 11 | 233 | 4,72 |
| Veghel | 12 | 260 | 4,62 |
| Midden-Drenthe | 20 | 435 | 4,60 |
| Molenwaard | 12 | 268 | 4,48 |
| Oss | 16 | 362 | 4,42 |
| Borger-Odoorn | 11 | 251 | 4,38 |
| Emmen | 16 | 371 | 4,31 |
| S·dwest-FryslÔn | 30 | 709 | 4,23 |
| Westland | 28 | 686 | 4,08 |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | 17 | 423 | 4,02 |
| Gemert Bakel | 13 | 327 | 3,98 |
| Deurne | 13 | 334 | 3,89 |
| The Fryske Marren | 20 | 514 | 3,89 |
| Ede | 28 | 722 | 3,88 |
| De Wolden | 14 | 376 | 3,72 |
| The Netherlands | 2050 | 55681 | 3,68 |
| Terneuzen | 14 | 383 | 3,66 |
| Oude IJsseltreek | 12 | 331 | 3,63 |
| Hollands Kroon | 21 | 583 | 3,60 |
| Sint anthonis | 12 | 334 | 3,59 |
| Horst aan de Maas | 17 | 474 | 3,59 |
| Steenwijkerland | 13 | 363 | 3,58 |
| Ooststellingwerf | 10 | 287 | 3,48 |
| Opsterland | 10 | 287 | 3,48 |
| Peel and Maas | 15 | 441 | 3,40 |
| Zundert | 14 | 413 | 3,39 |
| Ommen | 10 | 297 | 3,37 |
| Sluis | 17 | 505 | 3,37 |
| Holly | 11 | 341 | 3,23 |
| Municipalities with less than 10 young farmers | 968 | 30556 | 3,17 |
| Hardenberg | 20 | 650 | 3,08 |
| Dinkelland | 16 | 535 | 2,99 |
| Leudal | 11 | 376 | 2,93 |
| Venray | 11 | 383 | 2,87 |
| Dronten | 12 | 431 | 2,78 |
| Coevorden | 10 | 360 | 2,78 |
| Raalte | 11 | 506 | 2,17 |
| Tubbergen | 11 | 508 | 2,17 |
| Berkelland | 15 | 714 | 2,10 |
| Hof van Twente | 11 | 556 | 1,98 |
| Bronckhorst | 11 | 617 | 1,78 |
* The table is based on the results of the Agricultural Census of 2016. The age distribution concerns the farmers and managers of all agricultural and horticultural companies included in the Agricultural Census.
Kimberly Baker
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