Netherlands: 200 hectares of horticulture disappeared from the Westland

The number of Dutch horticultural companies has decreased by 72% since 1980. In 1980 there were 15,800 businesses with greenhouse horticulture. In 2014, this number decreased to 4,400 businesses. Horticulture is still highly concentrated in the Randstad conurbation.

Decrease lowest in Flevoland
With 6%, the number of greenhouse companies in Flevoland has reduced little since 1980. In all other provinces, the number of companies decreased with at least 51%. The strongest decline occurred in the province of Utrecht, where the number of businesses decreased by 82%. This was partly due to the construction of new housing estates.

Biggest greenhouse area in Zuid-Holland
Zuid-Holland has always been by far the largest horticultural province. In the period 2000-2008 though, acreage declined sharply by 715 hectares. From 2008 to 2011 the area increased by 138 hectares. In subsequent years (2011-2014), acreage again decreased, by 494 hectares. In 2014, 51% of Dutch horticulture was located in Zuid-Holland. Especially in the Westland, the greenhouse acreage is under great pressure in terms of space. In the area that covers the municipality of Westland, more than 200 hectares of greenhouses disappeared in the 2000-2008 period. The objective of the province is the reducing of scattered greenhouses and returning to 5800 hectares by developing new horticultural locations.

From 2011, increase in Noord-Holland
In Noord-Holland, greenhouse acreage declined with 170 hectares in the 2000-2011 period. In subsequent years (2011-2014), the area increased by 41 hectares. In the coming years, Noord-Holland seeks an expansion of 1000 hectares in the north of the province. The province likewise means to reduce scattered greenhouses.

Concentration in Randstad
The greenhouse industry in the Randstad is highly concentrated in a few municipalities. Outside the Randstad the greenhouses are spread out more. The Westland has the highest concentration of greenhouses: 80% of cultivated land. The Westland is followed by the municipalities Lansingerland with 38%, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht with 32%, Pijnacker-Nootdorp with 32%, Uithoorn with 28%, Aalsmeer with 15% and Katwijk with 15%. In the period 2009-2014, the city of Rijswijk saw its greenhouse acreage decrease from 57% to 12%. Outside the Randstad, there is no region left where the share is higher than 6%.

Source: Compendium voor de Leefomgeving

Publication date: Mon 24 Aug 2015