Which province has the most business successors?

Finding a suitable business successor is a difficult matter. This fact is confirmed by figures from Statistics Netherlands. But in which province is the percentage of companies with a business successor highest? That gives a new top 5 of Boerenbusiness, compiled by CBS, answer to.

The data from Statistics Netherlands indicate that there are 51.603 agricultural companies in the Netherlands. Of these, 25.526 companies have a manager who is 55 years or older. Of that number, 10.123 companies already have a business successor. That is less than half, namely 39,7%.

Who is on top?
The province of Flevoland is at the top of the list. In Flevoland this concerns 1.589 agricultural companies. On these farms, 762 business heads are 55 years or older. Of that number, 407 people have already found a business successor. That equates to 53%. 

The province of Groningen is in second place. In that province there are 2.539 agricultural companies, of which 1.282 companies have a farm manager who is 55 years or older. Of those 1.282, 604 have already found a business successor. That's 47%. 

The province of Friesland comes on the lowest step of the podium. There are 4.307 agricultural companies in that province. Of these, 1.987 farmers are aged 55 years or older. Only 46% have already found a business successor. This means that 1.069 companies are still without a successor.

Just next to the boat
The province of Zeeland ends up just next to the podium. There are 2.767 agricultural companies in Zeeland, of which 1.373 companies are looking for a business successor. More than 600 of those companies have actually found it. This is a percentage of 45%.

The province of Overijssel is in fifth and last place of this top 5. There are currently 6.840 agricultural companies in that province. Of these, 3.469 are looking for a business successor. At 1.540 companies it is already clear who that will be and at 1.929 companies it is still a mystery. This means that 44% of the companies in Overijssel already have a business successor.

Who is at the bottom of the list?
South Holland is at the bottom of the list. In that province there are 4.343 agricultural companies and of 2.185 companies the farmer is 55 or older. Only 752 of those companies have found a business successor. That is 34% of the total number.

The province of Limburg is also far at the bottom of the list. There are 3.419 agricultural companies in that province. Of these, 1.742 companies are looking for a business successor. A company follower has actually already been found on 752 of those companies, a percentage of 35%.

Percentage of follow-up of all business types per province

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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