Due to a privileged position on the North Sea, near the mouths of three great rivers, the Rhine, Meuse and Escaut, The Netherlands is the “gateway to Europe” and a major distribution hub. A considerable part of the commercial transactions is comprised of imports from the USA and Asia, via the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, which are the country’s principal logistics centres. Rotterdam is the world’s largest maritime port, handling several tens of millions tons of goods every year.

Holland is one of the leading European countries in terms of fruit and vegetable production, with over three million tons. It ranks first in Europe for the production of cucumbers (440,000 tons), second for bell peppers (345,000 tons), third for tomatoes (660,000 tons), and ranks third worldwide for mushrooms (245,000 tons), while carrots also remain at a high level (467,000 tons). As regards potatoes, the Dutch harvest in 2007 totalled 7.2 million tons, of which 50% was used for food, while the rest was used for seedlings (20%) and to produce potato flour (30%).

In terms of production and export figures, the horticulture sector is the most important part of Dutch agriculture. Floral and vegetable horticulture represents 7% of the arable lands and 39% of total production income (27% devoted to ornamental crops and 12% to vegetable crops). The Netherlands is the centre of the world trade in flowers and plants with roughly 68% market share. As the largest importer and exporter of cut flowers and potted plants, it has the largest flower market in the world. The Netherlands grows 88% of the world tulip production.

The Dutch dairy product sector (62,000 jobs) has always been geared to exports (60%). The milk industry (1.4 million dairy cows) is one of the largest agricultural sectors with an annual milk production of 11 million tons. The majority is converted into cheese, butter, powdered milk, fresh dairy products and specialties. About 60% of the farmland is used for dairy production and milk alone accounts for 17% of the total value of farm production. The Netherlands also imports a large volume of dairy products (€1.9 billion) that are redistributed to the EU and elsewhere. Cheese is by far the sector’s biggest product (710,000 tons in 2006) and half the milk is used to produce it. Exports totalled 542,000 tons (+9%) mostly to the EU (84%), with 37% for Germany. 

The Netherlands is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of fish and shellfish. It exports for over €2 billion and imports about €1.4 billion in fish. It supplies about 35,500 tons of seafood products to France and imports roughly 10,600 tons from France.
The volumes fished (2007 quotas) include 11,226 tons of sole, 18,901 tons of plaice, 1,915 tons of cod, 62,900 tons of herring, 23,800 tons of mackerel, 45,800 tons of scad and 51,950 tons of blue whiting. Holland also produces about 10,000 tons of shrimp. The annual per capita consumption of seafood products came to 7.5 kg in 2008. Herring and smoked salmon are among the most popular.

Dutch cuisine is plain and copious, prepared from top quality produce. Salted herring served raw remains one of the country’s specialties. Soups are also a national dish, with “erwtensoep” or “snert” (made with split peas) and “boerenkass soep” (traditional soup with Gouda). There is also the famous “hutspot met klapstuk” (a large stew cooked with several meats and sausage) or “stampot” (cabbage stew with pork), “bitterballen” (meat balls) and “frikandels” (Dutch sausages), etc.
In terms of cakes and pastries, there is “pannekoeken” (very thick, wide Dutch sweet or savoury pancakes,), “flensjes” (apple and rhubarb pancakes), “poffertjes” (small soufflé pancakes covered with butter and icing sugar), “boterkoek” (almond tart), gingerbread (ginger), Saint-Nicolas speculos (small cinnamon biscuits), “stroopwafels” (butter waffles filled with treacle). Lastly, The Netherlands consumes more liquorice than any other country.

Marianne Vaes
(for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality at the Dutch Embassy in France)

““Agricultural production and the Dutch food industry represent about 10% of total GDP, totalling 567 billion euros in 2007. This sector also represents 10% of jobs. It should be pointed out that The Netherlands is an important commercial player on the world market, as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of agricultural and processed products after the USA. The surplus from agricultural products and the food industry (over 23 billion euros) contributed heavily to our overall trade surplus in 2008, representing over 65%! The growth of our agricultural and agribusiness exports in cash terms – +9.6% in 2008 – has been faster than for exports of other goods. Our main export products are cheeses and other dairy products, meats and flowers and other horticultural products, with respectively the following export totals for 2008: 5.2 billion, 6.9 billion and 7.9 billion euros. The European Union (including the top 4: Germany, United Kingdom, France and Belgium) is still our principal market, with 81%, whilst the non-EU share remains more or less stable. France and The Netherlands have always been the two leaders in the European food industry. Quality, price and logistics remain the decisive factors when dealing with global competition. However, sustainable development standards will impose greater constraints. So we must continue to invest, create and innovate. The LEI (research institute for the farming economy: www.lei.wur.nl ) published a study on future prospects for the Dutch farming sector in April, which should open up discussion on how to better steer our farming and food industry activities towards satisfying future needs. The trends in gastronomy are characterized by quality products, better local products and a healthy diet. France remains a model for The Netherlands in this domain. The number of recognised Dutch chefs, with Guide Michelin stars, has been steadily growing in recent years! A delegation of the latter as well as a delegation of pastry chefs attended various international events in France, such as the Bocuse d’Or and the Mondial de la Pâtisserie at the SIRHA 2009 trade show in Lyon.”

Stan Mostermans
(Chairman and CEO of Bavaria France)

“As the second largest Dutch brewer after Heineken, ranking fifteenth worldwide, Bavaria has been a family-run business for seven generations (1719). I personally set up the French subsidiary, Bavaria France, in 1992 where we develop low fermentation beers that are “8.6” gold, lager and red ale. We also produce fizzy drinks and mineral water, which is used to make our beer. Our annual beer production exceeds 6 million hectolitres, which represents 30% of Dutch volumes, and we export about 60% of it to 120 countries. The Netherlands is the third largest beer exporter in the world after Mexico and Germany. Beer is the number one beverage in The Netherlands, especially light beer, with an annual consumption of 78 litres per inhabitant, compared to 32 litres in France. However, we are noticing that wine consumption, especially white wine, is growing in Holland. We are optimistic about the future because of the strong potential for growth, particularly in France.”

Jérôme Quaak
(General Manager of Quaak Fleurs Distribution – cut flowers - Rungis))

“Holland in increasingly present, if not unavoidable, in the flower trade. The Dutch are the most efficient on a certain number of floral products like the tulip, rose and chrysanthemum, all bulb plants, of course, as well as various orchids like phalaenopsis and other cymbidium. These products are good value for money. With their “veilings”, the famous electronic auction markets, they sell top quality products because this system promotes the best quality. In horticulture, the Dutch are the most technologically advanced with sodium-vapour lamps, shade screens, temperature screens, high and hermetically-sealed greenhouses, et al. Holland is a very successful country that is open to the world.”