Also Belgian horticulture is flourishing again

Not only Dutch greenhouse horticulture is experiencing a resurgence, also construction is ongoing in Belgium. For Dutch greenhouse builder Van Amelsvoort Kassenbouw, business is good. They notice that the market is doing well. "But that's really always been the case," says Sven Fitters. "We have been working here for about seven or eight years. This year, the number of projects has increased again and for next year there are a lot of inquiries, that is remarkable. These are not for mega projects that you see in the Netherlands, from ten hectares or more. We have recently built a large one of 8 hectares in Merksplas, but most of the time we build projects from 1 to 5 hectares. That has always been the case for us in Belgium."

 

Unlike in the Netherlands, however, for now there is no major expansion yet this year, says Maarten Verhaegen of BelOrta. "There is mainly a lot of innovation: growers who demolish an existing greenhouse and build a new one. The expansion in horticulture is limited. The last 5 to 6 years have not been great seasons, so the economic climate is not really conducive for new construction." The renovations and extensions are mainly made in tomato cultivation. What also plays an important role is the rise of lighted cultivation. "That increases 15-20% every year. The major companies already have it or are thinking of installing it the coming season. It is the trend towards the future. But the expansion this year is certainly no more than 5%."

 

This is also confirmed by Anne-Marie Vangeenberghe, spokeswoman of the Flemish association Boerenbond. "The figures of 2016 are not yet available, but there is no significant expansion up till now," she notices. "It may be that there are more construction plans again and more requests received by the builders, because financial issues have been resolved. After the EHEC, it has taken over two years to overcome the losses and between 2014 and 2016 it was not so bad. Perhaps that's why construction plans are made again, but there is a big gap between planning and execution." 

"We notice year by year that the number of greenhouse companies is decreasing, while the acreage remains the same. The little ones disappear, the big companies grow", Anne-Marie continues. She points out that greenhouse horticulture in Belgium still has many small businesses. "53% of vegetable companies are smaller than 1 hectare, 70% are less than 1.5 hectares. But by now half of the acreage is filled by companies of 3 hectares or more."

The fact that the number of small greenhouse companies has declined so rapidly in recent years also has to do with the profitability of these companies. "A few years ago, the CHP (combined heat and power) emerged in Belgium. The CHP reduces the heating costs and thus the cost for the companies with CHP, but there were no models available yet for smaller companies. That is why it was harder for them in the period 2005-2010. "Only now there are smaller CHPs available, this way the smaller companies can survive."

Anne-Marie also points out that land planning in Belgium is important for the company's size. "Many greenhouses are enclosed on all sides. The plots are smaller and are in a residential or industrial area. Even if they would want to expand according to the Dutch model, that would be impossible." That's what builder Sven also recognizes. "It's not as straightforward as in the Netherlands where you buy land and build it up fully. It’s includes more adjusting and measuring on the plots that are owned by the grower or the plots they have been able to buy from the neighbors."

And there is another point in which the industry differs from the Netherlands. "The Dutch companies are mostly occupying larger areas," says Maarten. "Here, the greenhouse horticulture consists of family companies with their own specializations. These are less likely to expand suddenly." For Sven, that's what the greenhouse industry in Belgium makes it a fun sector to work in. "As a Brabant company, the Belgian market suits us just fine."