Dutch agricultural exports reached €122 billion in a recent year. This value exceeds the total output of many national economies. The data reveals a sector defined by intense efficiency and global reach.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Netherlands dairy farms numbered 14,200 with average 285 cows each
- Agricultural exports from Netherlands totaled €122 billion in 2022
- In 2022, the Netherlands harvested 6,782,000 tonnes of potatoes from 68,200 hectares of land, achieving an average yield of 99.4 tonnes per hectare
- Tomato production in Dutch greenhouses reached 910,000 tonnes in 2022 from 930 hectares, yield 979 tonnes/ha
- Agricultural land area in Netherlands was 1.82 million hectares in 2022, 54% of total land
- In 2022, Netherlands had 3.8 million dairy cows producing 14.1 billion kg milk
Netherlands agriculture grew output and improved productivity, showing continued resilience in the sector.
Related reading
01 · Category
Dairy Production26 stats
01
In 2022, Netherlands dairy farms numbered 14,200 with average 285 cows each
02
Milk production per farm averaged 2.5 million kg in 2022
03
Cheese production totaled 920,000 tonnes in 2022, 80% Gouda type
04
Butter output was 190,000 tonnes from 1.4 billion kg milk in 2022
05
Milk powder production reached 220,000 tonnes in 2022, mainly skim
06
Yogurt and fresh products used 2.5 billion kg milk in 2022
07
Dairy export value hit €8.5 billion in 2022
08
Cow somatic cell count averaged 150,000/ml in 2022
09
Robotic milking systems on 40% of dairy farms in 2022
10
Milk fat content averaged 4.25% in 2022 deliveries
11
Protein content in milk was 3.55% average in 2022
12
Dairy calf meat production 250,000 tonnes in 2022
13
Farm gate milk price averaged €0.48/kg in 2022
14
Organic dairy cows numbered 200,000 in 2022, 5% of total
15
Manure production per dairy cow was 22 tonnes/year in 2022
16
Cheese export volume 750,000 tonnes in 2022
17
Milk processing capacity totaled 20 billion liters annually in 2022
18
Dairy farm income averaged €180,000 per farm in 2022
19
Lifetime milk yield per cow reached 35,000 kg in 2022
20
Butter fat recovery rate 95% in processing 2022
21
Skim milk powder yield 13% from whole milk in 2022
22
Drinking milk production 1.8 billion liters packaged in 2022
23
Dairy cooperative membership covered 95% of production in 2022
24
Milk urea content averaged 22 mg/dl in 2022
25
Cheese ripening storage capacity 500,000 tonnes in 2022
26
Dairy semen use for AI totaled 5 million doses in 2022
Interpretation
Dairy Production Interpretation
The Netherlands has perfected the art of turning grass, grit, and gadgetry into a global dairy empire, proving that efficiency is the true cheese of the Dutch economic engine.
02 · Category
Economics and Trade25 stats
01
Agricultural exports from Netherlands totaled €122 billion in 2022
02
Number of agricultural holdings was 50,400 in 2022, down 3% from 2021
03
Total agricultural output value €45 billion in 2022
04
Farm income (EAA) averaged €85,000 per holding in 2022
05
Horticulture sector revenue €22 billion in 2022, 50% of ag total
06
Livestock sector gross value €18 billion in 2022
07
Subsidy payments to farmers totaled €2.5 billion in 2022
08
Agricultural labor force 250,000 full-time equivalents in 2022
09
Machinery investment €3.2 billion in 2022
10
Flower exports valued €3.5 billion in 2022
11
Vegetable exports €7.8 billion in 2022
12
Meat exports totaled €8.2 billion in 2022, mainly pork
13
Dairy exports €8.5 billion as noted earlier, but trade balance +€7.9B
14
Potato exports €1.2 billion volume 2.5M tonnes in 2022
15
Agri-food trade surplus €50 billion in 2022
16
Average farm size 36 hectares in 2022
17
Greenhouse horticulture output €15 billion in 2022
18
Fertilizer costs rose 40% to €2.5B in 2022
19
Energy costs for ag €4.1 billion in 2022, up 50%
20
Organic ag sales €1.8 billion in 2022
21
Pig farm revenue average €2.5M per farm in 2022
22
Dairy farm costs per 100kg milk €35 in 2022
23
Crop protection spending €450 million in 2022
24
Irrigation investment €150 million in 2022
25
Agribusiness turnover €100 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Economics and Trade Interpretation
With 3% fewer farmers managing to generate a staggering trade surplus that could probably buy its own windmill, the Netherlands proves it's not the size of the farm in the fight, but the size of the fight—and the efficiency—in the farm.
03 · Category
Field Crops30 stats
01
In 2022, the Netherlands harvested 6,782,000 tonnes of potatoes from 68,200 hectares of land, achieving an average yield of 99.4 tonnes per hectare
02
Dutch potato production in 2021 totaled 5,112,000 tonnes, down 25% from 2020 due to weather impacts, with seed potatoes accounting for 25% of output
03
In 2023, sugar beet production reached 6.2 million tonnes from 73,000 hectares, yielding 85 tonnes/ha
04
Wheat production in the Netherlands was 1,057,000 tonnes in 2022 from 24,500 hectares at 43.2 tonnes/ha yield
05
Barley output stood at 284,000 tonnes in 2022 from 11,200 hectares, with winter barley dominating 80% of area
06
Onion production hit 1,010,000 tonnes in 2022 from 21,900 hectares, export-oriented with 90% shipped abroad
07
Carrot cultivation yielded 520,000 tonnes from 8,000 hectares in 2022, average yield 65 tonnes/ha
08
In 2021, rye production was 12,000 tonnes from 1,800 hectares, mainly for animal feed
09
Flax fiber production reached 8,000 tonnes in 2022 from 3,500 hectares, high-quality for textiles
10
Green pea harvest was 85,000 tonnes from 4,200 hectares in 2022, yield 20.2 tonnes/ha
11
Seed potato exports from Netherlands totaled 300,000 tonnes in 2022, valued at €400 million
12
In 2023, rapeseed production was 145,000 tonnes from 9,000 hectares, yield 16.1 tonnes/ha
13
Oat production amounted to 45,000 tonnes in 2022 from 3,200 hectares
14
Cauliflower output reached 70,000 tonnes from 1,500 hectares in 2022, yield 46.7 tonnes/ha
15
In 2021, triticale harvest was 25,000 tonnes from 2,100 hectares
16
Bean production totaled 12,000 tonnes from 1,200 hectares in 2022
17
In 2022, Dutch farmers grew 15,000 tonnes of chicory roots from 2,500 hectares, yield 6 tonnes/ha
18
Silage maize production was 9.5 million tonnes from 145,000 hectares in 2022, yield 65.5 tonnes/ha
19
Grain maize output reached 1.8 million tonnes from 22,000 hectares in 2022
20
In 2023, potato acreage decreased by 5% to 65,000 hectares due to disease pressures
21
Sugar beet yield averaged 88 tonnes/ha in 2022, up 10% from prior year
22
Wheat exports from Netherlands were 750,000 tonnes in 2022
23
Onion storage capacity in Netherlands exceeds 2 million tonnes annually
24
In 2022, 40% of Dutch potato production was for French fries processing
25
Carrot exports totaled 400,000 tonnes in 2022, mainly to Europe
26
Rye acreage declined 15% in 2022 to 1,500 hectares
27
Flax production focused on 90% fiber quality varieties in 2022
28
Green pea processing output was 70% of harvest in 2022
29
Rapeseed used 70% for biofuel in Dutch production 2022
30
Oat consumption 80% for animal feed in Netherlands 2022
Interpretation
Field Crops Interpretation
The Netherlands, while roughly the size of Connecticut, farms with the industrial might of a continent, transforming every precious hectare into a torrent of potatoes, onions, and carrots for the world, proving that agricultural genius isn't about having more land but knowing exactly what to do with it.
More related reading
04 · Category
Horticultural Crops26 stats
01
Tomato production in Dutch greenhouses reached 910,000 tonnes in 2022 from 930 hectares, yield 979 tonnes/ha
02
Cucumber output totaled 365,000 tonnes in 2022 from 425 hectares under glass, yield 859 tonnes/ha
03
Bell pepper production was 570,000 tonnes in 2022 from 650 hectares, average yield 877 tonnes/ha
04
Flower bulb cultivation area was 22,000 hectares in 2022, producing 1.8 billion tulip bulbs
05
Cut chrysanthemum production reached 1.2 billion stems in 2022 from 450 hectares
06
Strawberry production under glass was 140,000 tonnes in 2022 from 250 hectares
07
Mushroom output totaled 225,000 tonnes in 2022, 95% from compost facilities
08
Sweet pepper exports were 500,000 tonnes in 2022, 85% from greenhouses
09
Tulip exports amounted to 400 million bulbs in 2022, valued at €250 million
10
Lettuce production reached 420,000 tonnes in 2022 from 1,200 hectares
11
Rose cultivation produced 350 million stems in 2022 under 200 hectares glass
12
Eggplant output was 45,000 tonnes from 55 hectares in 2022, yield 818 tonnes/ha
13
Open-field strawberry harvest totaled 110,000 tonnes from 3,500 hectares in 2022
14
Lily bulb production was 500 million units in 2022 from 1,500 hectares
15
Greenhouse lettuce yield averaged 250 tonnes/ha in 2022
16
Cut flower auction sales through FloraHolland reached 12 billion stems in 2022
17
Gherkin production was 180,000 tonnes from 200 hectares glass in 2022
18
Hyacinth bulbs exported 150 million in 2022
19
Tomato greenhouse energy use averaged 200 m3 gas per tonne in 2022
20
Cucumber exports totaled 300,000 tonnes in 2022 to EU markets
21
Bell pepper greenhouse area increased 5% to 650 ha in 2022
22
Flower bulb export value was €1.1 billion in 2022
23
Mushroom compost production supported 250,000 tonnes output in 2022
24
Strawberry high-wire systems covered 80% of glass area in 2022
25
Chrysanthemum greenhouse yield was 2.7 million stems/ha in 2022
26
Lettuce iceberg variety dominated 60% of production in 2022
Interpretation
Horticultural Crops Interpretation
The Netherlands has clearly decided that if you can't expand outwards, the only logical move is to grow upwards with such ruthless efficiency that each square meter of soil is now engaged in a high-stakes, multi-level game of vegetable Tetris to feed and beautify Europe.
05 · Category
Land Use25 stats
01
Agricultural land area in Netherlands was 1.82 million hectares in 2022, 54% of total land
02
Grassland occupied 930,000 hectares in 2022, 51% of ag land
03
Arable land totaled 442,000 hectares in 2022, 24% of ag land
04
Greenhouse area reached 10,300 hectares in 2022, mainly horticulture
05
Fallow land was 15,000 hectares in 2022, 0.8% of ag land
06
Permanent crops covered 22,000 hectares in 2022
07
Peat soil used for agriculture 150,000 hectares in 2022, 8% of ag land
08
Irrigation covered 200,000 hectares in 2022, mainly horticulture
09
Organic farmland was 243,000 hectares in 2022, 13% of total ag land
10
Clay soil dominated 60% of arable land in 2022
11
Sandy soil ag use 250,000 hectares in 2022
12
Land drainage systems protected 1.5 million ha in 2022
13
Hedgerows and windbreaks covered 5,000 km on farms in 2022
14
Nature-inclusive farming on 50,000 ha in 2022
15
Precision agriculture tech on 70% of arable farms in 2022
16
Crop rotation included legumes on 20% of arable land 2022
17
Greenhouse soil-less growing 85% of area in 2022
18
Flood-prone polder land 300,000 ha managed in 2022
19
Agri-environment schemes paid €500 million for 400,000 ha in 2022
20
Farmland birds index declined 20% from 1990 to 2022
21
Soil organic matter averaged 3.5% on grassland 2022
22
Arable land per farm averaged 45 ha in 2022
23
Greenhouse expansion limited to 500 ha/year since 2018 to 2022
24
Peat meadow subsidence 1 cm/year average in 2022
25
Cover crops used on 60% of winter fields in 2022
Interpretation
Land Use Interpretation
Despite being one of the world's most densely populated countries, the Netherlands has ingeniously turned over half its land into a high-tech, tightly-managed agricultural powerhouse, where greenhouses are soilless, precision farming is the norm, and even the cows graze on carefully measured and monitored peat meadows that are literally sinking under their own productivity.
06 · Category
Livestock Production30 stats
01
In 2022, Netherlands had 3.8 million dairy cows producing 14.1 billion kg milk
02
Pig herd numbered 11.2 million heads in 2022, with 10.5 million slaughter pigs
03
Poultry population reached 112 million in 2022, including 104 million broilers
04
Beef cattle stock was 3.9 million heads in 2022, 50% dairy breeds
05
Sheep numbers totaled 1.2 million in 2022, mainly for meat
06
Goat herd was 370,000 heads in 2022, 90% for milk
07
Horse population for agriculture was 45,000 in 2022
08
Turkey production totaled 120,000 tonnes meat in 2022 from 20 million birds
09
Duck meat output was 85,000 tonnes in 2022
10
Pig meat production reached 2.1 million tonnes carcass weight in 2022
11
Broiler meat production was 1.05 million tonnes in 2022
12
Dairy cow milk yield averaged 8,900 kg per cow in 2022
13
Sow productivity was 32.5 piglets per litter in 2022
14
Broiler growth rate achieved 1.75 kg in 38 days average in 2022
15
Calf production from dairy herds was 1.9 million in 2022
16
Sheep lambing rate was 1.6 lambs per ewe in 2022
17
Goat milk yield per doe averaged 950 liters in 2022
18
Pig farm average herd size was 3,200 heads in 2022
19
Poultry farm density reached 250,000 birds per farm average in 2022
20
Beef carcass weight averaged 320 kg in 2022
21
Turkey slaughter age reduced to 18 weeks in 2022 for efficiency
22
Duck farm integration with pig manure use covered 40% in 2022
23
Dairy heifer replacement rate was 35% in 2022
24
Piglet weaning weight averaged 7.5 kg at 26 days in 2022
25
Broiler feed conversion ratio improved to 1.45 in 2022
26
Sheep meat production totaled 15,000 tonnes in 2022
27
Goat cheese production used milk from 300,000 does in 2022
28
Cattle methane emissions per kg milk fell 10% since 2010 to 2022
29
Pig slurry production was 45 million m3 in 2022
30
Poultry egg production reached 10.5 billion eggs in 2022
Interpretation
Livestock Production Interpretation
The Netherlands has become a dizzyingly efficient machine for protein, where every drop of milk, rasher of bacon, and roasted drumstick is engineered with such scientific precision that the very livestock seem to be consulting spreadsheets.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Netherlands Agriculture Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-agriculture-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Netherlands Agriculture Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/netherlands-agriculture-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Netherlands Agriculture Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/netherlands-agriculture-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level