Which flower bulbs are most common?
Tulips and lilies are the most commonly grown flower bulbs, followed by narcissi, hyacinths and gladioli. In 2021, Dutch farmers cultivated flower bulbs on 27.3 thousand hectares of land. Cultivation of flower bulbs in the open air in the period 2000–2014 was around 23 thousand ha. The area under cultivation increased by almost 4 thousand ha in the years thereafter. This growth has ceased over the last three years.
The growth of the acreage after 2015 was due to the expansion of the cultivation of tulips. The acreage of tulips increased by 2.3 thousand ha in the period 2015–2021. In recent years, the area under tulip cultivation has accounted for about half of the total surface area devoted to flower bulbs. In 2021, the acreage of open-ground tulips amounted to 14.5 thousand ha; 53 percent of the total flower bulb area. Lilies account for over one-fifth of the acreage.
Fewer gladioli
The flower bulb sector has been specialising in lilies and tulips for many years now. The acreage of lilies increased from 1.1 thousand ha in 1980 to 5.8 thousand ha in 2021; the acreage of tulips increased from 6.3 thousand ha (1980) to 14.5 thousand ha (2021). The acreage of gladioli had decreased by nearly two-thirds in 2021 compared to 1980; the acreage of narcissi remained at 1.5 thousand ha.
| Tulips | Lilies | Hyacinths | Narcissi | Gladioli | Irises | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.4 | . |
| 1981 | 6.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | . |
| 1982 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 | . |
| 1983 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 |
| 1984 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| 1985 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
| 1986 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| 1987 | 7.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.9 |
| 1988 | 7.1 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| 1989 | 7.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 |
| 1990 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 |
| 1991 | 7.0 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 |
| 1992 | 7.2 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| 1993 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 |
| 1994 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 |
| 1995 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 |
| 1996 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 1997 | 9.4 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 1998 | 10.0 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 |
| 1999 | 10.1 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| 2000 | 9.7 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 2001 | 10.1 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| 2002 | 10.6 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| 2003 | 11.0 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| 2004 | 11.0 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 |
| 2005 | 10.6 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| 2006 | 10.4 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| 2007 | 10.7 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| 2008 | 11.4 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 |
| 2009 | 11.7 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| 2010 | 11.4 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| 2011 | 11.9 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 |
| 2012 | 11.3 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| 2013 | 11.4 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| 2014 | 11.4 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| 2015 | 12.2 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| 2016 | 13.2 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| 2017 | 13.4 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| 2018 | 14.2 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| 2019 | 14.4 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| 2020 | 14.9 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| 2021* | 14.5 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
Bulb farmers
The increase in scale in flower bulb cultivation continues year on year. The number of farms specialised in flower bulb cultivation has decreased by more than 40 percent since 2000; from 2.7 thousand (2000) to 1.6 thousand (2021). The area under bulb cultivation grew from 22.5 thousand ha in 2000 to 27.3 thousand ha in 2021. The average bulb grower now has more than 17 hectares of flower bulbs, which is 2.1 times as much as in 2000.
Bulb-growing areas
Flower bulb cultivation is strongly clustered on a regional basis. More than 1,000 ha of bulbs have been planted in nine municipalities: Den Helder, Hollands Kroon, Schagen, Medemblik, Midden-Drenthe, Noordoostpolder, Noordwijk, Drechterland and Koggenland. The largest continuous bulb-growing area is in the north of the province of Noord-Holland. In 2020, 28 percent of all flower bulbs (acreage) were planted in the municipalities of Hollands Kroon, Schagen and Den Helder, collectively known as the northern bulb region.
| Gemeentenaam | Acreage (ha) |
|---|---|
| Hollands Kroon | 3608.9 |
| Noordoostpolder | 2714.1 |
| Schagen | 2632.5 |
| Den Helder | 1362.5 |
| Medemblik | 1258.6 |
| Midden-Drenthe | 1198.2 |
| Noordwijk | 1179.9 |
| Koggenland | 1159.3 |
| Drechterland | 1010.8 |
| Goeree-Overflakkee | 913.2 |
| Stede Broec | 699.4 |
| Dronten | 558.5 |
| Zeewolde | 525.0 |
| Bergen (NH.) | 521.8 |
| Hillegom | 433.5 |
| Teylingen | 406.2 |
| Westerveld | 378.8 |
| Texel | 359.7 |
| Lisse | 338.7 |
| Hardenberg | 328.4 |
| Venray | 303.8 |
| Leudal | 193.0 |
| Haarlemmermeer | 183.5 |
| Alkmaar | 180.4 |
| De Fryske Marren | 176.7 |
| Horst aan de Maas | 173.3 |
| Heerhugowaard | 165.7 |
| Opmeer | 161.6 |
| Borger-Odoorn | 159.2 |
| Het Hogeland | 141.1 |
| Peel en Maas | 134.2 |
| Weststellingwerf | 133.4 |
| Sint Anthonis | 121.8 |
| Heerenveen | 120.9 |
| Coevorden | 118.0 |
| Weert | 117.6 |
| Dalfsen | 106.8 |
| Lelystad | 106.6 |
| Hulst | 103.4 |
| Westerwolde | 93.0 |
| Roosendaal | 90.0 |
| Castricum | 88.1 |
| Twenterand | 85.0 |
| Landerd | 73.9 |
| Nederweert | 63.9 |
| Boekel | 60.5 |
| Waadhoeke | 54.8 |
| Tholen | 53.9 |
| Enkhuizen | 53.2 |
| Heemskerk | 52.1 |
| Steenwijkerland | 51.1 |
| Sint-Michielsgestel | 49.9 |
| Súdwest-Fryslân | 49.4 |
| Deurne | 48.6 |
| Aalsmeer | 48.0 |
| Bergen (L.) | 45.0 |
| Putten | 44.9 |
| Borsele | 43.1 |
| Delfzijl | 43.1 |
| Aalten | 42.7 |
| Raalte | 41.0 |
| Mill en Sint Hubert | 40.9 |
| Uden | 40.6 |
| Loppersum | 39.1 |
| Doetinchem | 38.8 |
| Zundert | 36.7 |
| Boxmeer | 35.7 |
| Bloemendaal | 34.2 |
| Steenbergen | 32.1 |
| Heiloo | 31.4 |
| Emmen | 30.0 |
| Noordenveld | 28.3 |
| Zevenaar | 27.9 |
| Bronckhorst | 27.3 |
| Ede | 23.8 |
| Ommen | 23.3 |
| Beemster | 22.4 |
| Cranendonck | 22.4 |
| Deventer | 22.3 |
| s-Hertogenbosch | 21.9 |
| Goes | 21.2 |
| Sluis | 21.0 |
| Hoeksche Waard | 20.8 |
| Oldambt | 20.6 |
| Roerdalen | 20.0 |
| Heerde | 19.8 |
| Meierijstad | 18.3 |
| Someren | 16.9 |
| Hilvarenbeek | 16.6 |
| Echt-Susteren | 16.4 |
| Harlingen | 16.1 |
| Oude IJsselstreek | 15.9 |
| Moerdijk | 15.1 |
| Winterswijk | 15.0 |
| Gemert-Bakel | 14.6 |
| Bergen op Zoom | 13.8 |
| Beverwijk | 13.0 |
| Schouwen-Duiveland | 12.7 |
| Oost Gelre | 12.5 |
| Eijsden-Margraten | 12.1 |
| Beesel | 12.0 |
| Almere | 11.6 |
| Westerkwartier | 11.5 |
| Gennep | 11.4 |
| Kaag en Braassem | 11.2 |
| Noardeast-Fryslân | 10.9 |
| Almelo | 10.8 |
| Maasdriel | 10.8 |
| Tubbergen | 10.0 |
| Hoorn | 9.8 |
| Woensdrecht | 9.4 |
| Rucphen | 9.2 |
| Apeldoorn | 9.0 |
| Best | 8.8 |
| Kapelle | 8.6 |
| Eersel | 8.1 |
| Wormerland | 8.1 |
| Nieuwkoop | 7.2 |
| Velsen | 7.1 |
| Zaltbommel | 6.7 |
| Bernheze | 6.5 |
| Epe | 6.5 |
| Opsterland | 6.4 |
| Aa en Hunze | 6.3 |
| Reimerswaal | 6.3 |
| Halderberge | 5.5 |
| Hellendoorn | 5.4 |
| Oisterwijk | 5.3 |
| Urk | 5.3 |
| Woudenberg | 5.1 |
| Hof van Twente | 4.5 |
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug | 4.3 |
| Oirschot | 4.1 |
| Etten-Leur | 3.9 |
| Barneveld | 3.6 |
| Middelburg (Z.) | 3.5 |
| Rijssen-Holten | 3.1 |
| De Wolden | 3.1 |
| Kampen | 3.0 |
| Voorst | 3.0 |
| Baarle-Nassau | 2.8 |
| Ooststellingwerf | 2.8 |
| Meppel | 2.7 |
| West Betuwe | 2.6 |
| Assen | 2.4 |
| Breda | 2.4 |
| Berkelland | 1.8 |
| Westland | 1.8 |
| Veere | 1.2 |
| Uithoorn | 1.1 |
| Voorschoten | 1.1 |
| Neder-Betuwe | 0.9 |
| Midden-Groningen | 0.8 |
| Tynaarlo | 0.8 |
| Leidschendam-Voorburg | 0.7 |
| Vlissingen | 0.7 |
| Scherpenzeel | 0.5 |
| Katwijk | 0.4 |
| Reusel-De Mierden | 0.4 |
| Valkenswaard | 0.4 |
| Wageningen | 0.2 |
| Maastricht | 0.1 |
| Stichtse Vecht | 0.1 |
| Achtkarspelen | 0.0 |
| Alblasserdam | 0.0 |
| Albrandswaard | 0.0 |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | 0.0 |
| Alphen-Chaam | 0.0 |
| Altena | 0.0 |
| Ameland | 0.0 |
| Amersfoort | 0.0 |
| Amstelveen | 0.0 |
| Amsterdam | 0.0 |
| Appingedam | 0.0 |
| Arnhem | 0.0 |
| Asten | 0.0 |
| Baarn | 0.0 |
| Barendrecht | 0.0 |
| Beek (L.) | 0.0 |
| Beekdaelen | 0.0 |
| Berg en Dal | 0.0 |
| Bergeijk | 0.0 |
| Beuningen | 0.0 |
| De Bilt | 0.0 |
| Bladel | 0.0 |
| Blaricum | 0.0 |
| Bodegraven-Reeuwijk | 0.0 |
| Borne | 0.0 |
| Boxtel | 0.0 |
| Brielle | 0.0 |
| Brummen | 0.0 |
| Brunssum | 0.0 |
| Bunnik | 0.0 |
| Bunschoten | 0.0 |
| Buren | 0.0 |
| Capelle aan den IJssel | 0.0 |
| Cuijk | 0.0 |
| Culemborg | 0.0 |
| Dantumadiel | 0.0 |
| Delft | 0.0 |
| Diemen | 0.0 |
| Dinkelland | 0.0 |
| Doesburg | 0.0 |
| Dongen | 0.0 |
| Dordrecht | 0.0 |
| Drimmelen | 0.0 |
| Druten | 0.0 |
| Duiven | 0.0 |
| Edam-Volendam | 0.0 |
| Eemnes | 0.0 |
| Eindhoven | 0.0 |
| Elburg | 0.0 |
| Enschede | 0.0 |
| Ermelo | 0.0 |
| Geertruidenberg | 0.0 |
| Geldrop-Mierlo | 0.0 |
| Gilze en Rijen | 0.0 |
| Goirle | 0.0 |
| Gooise Meren | 0.0 |
| Gorinchem | 0.0 |
| Gouda | 0.0 |
| Grave | 0.0 |
| s-Gravenhage (gemeente) | 0.0 |
| Groningen (gemeente) | 0.0 |
| Gulpen-Wittem | 0.0 |
| Haaksbergen | 0.0 |
| Haaren | 0.0 |
| Haarlem | 0.0 |
| Harderwijk | 0.0 |
| Hardinxveld-Giessendam | 0.0 |
| Hattem | 0.0 |
| Heemstede | 0.0 |
| Heerlen | 0.0 |
| Heeze-Leende | 0.0 |
| Hellevoetsluis | 0.0 |
| Helmond | 0.0 |
| Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht | 0.0 |
| Hengelo (O.) | 0.0 |
| Heumen | 0.0 |
| Heusden | 0.0 |
| Hilversum | 0.0 |
| Hoogeveen | 0.0 |
| Houten | 0.0 |
| Huizen | 0.0 |
| IJsselstein | 0.0 |
| Kerkrade | 0.0 |
| Krimpen aan den IJssel | 0.0 |
| Krimpenerwaard | 0.0 |
| Laarbeek | 0.0 |
| Landgraaf | 0.0 |
| Landsmeer | 0.0 |
| Langedijk | 0.0 |
| Lansingerland | 0.0 |
| Laren (NH.) | 0.0 |
| Leeuwarden | 0.0 |
| Leiden | 0.0 |
| Leiderdorp | 0.0 |
| Leusden | 0.0 |
| Lingewaard | 0.0 |
| Lochem | 0.0 |
| Loon op Zand | 0.0 |
| Lopik | 0.0 |
| Losser | 0.0 |
| Maasgouw | 0.0 |
| Maassluis | 0.0 |
| Meerssen | 0.0 |
| Midden-Delfland | 0.0 |
| Molenlanden | 0.0 |
| Montferland | 0.0 |
| Montfoort | 0.0 |
| Mook en Middelaar | 0.0 |
| Nieuwegein | 0.0 |
| Nijkerk | 0.0 |
| Nijmegen | 0.0 |
| Nissewaard | 0.0 |
| Noord-Beveland | 0.0 |
| Nuenen Gerwen en Nederwetten | 0.0 |
| Nunspeet | 0.0 |
| Oegstgeest | 0.0 |
| Oldebroek | 0.0 |
| Oldenzaal | 0.0 |
| Olst-Wijhe | 0.0 |
| Oosterhout | 0.0 |
| Oostzaan | 0.0 |
| Oss | 0.0 |
| Ouder-Amstel | 0.0 |
| Oudewater | 0.0 |
| Overbetuwe | 0.0 |
| Papendrecht | 0.0 |
| Pekela | 0.0 |
| Pijnacker-Nootdorp | 0.0 |
| Purmerend | 0.0 |
| Renkum | 0.0 |
| Renswoude | 0.0 |
| Rheden | 0.0 |
| Rhenen | 0.0 |
| Ridderkerk | 0.0 |
| Rijswijk (ZH.) | 0.0 |
| Roermond | 0.0 |
| De Ronde Venen | 0.0 |
| Rotterdam | 0.0 |
| Rozendaal | 0.0 |
| Schiedam | 0.0 |
| Schiermonnikoog | 0.0 |
| Simpelveld | 0.0 |
| Sittard-Geleen | 0.0 |
| Sliedrecht | 0.0 |
| Smallingerland | 0.0 |
| Soest | 0.0 |
| Son en Breugel | 0.0 |
| Stadskanaal | 0.0 |
| Staphorst | 0.0 |
| Stein (L.) | 0.0 |
| Terneuzen | 0.0 |
| Terschelling | 0.0 |
| Tiel | 0.0 |
| Tilburg | 0.0 |
| Tytsjerksteradiel | 0.0 |
| Uitgeest | 0.0 |
| Utrecht (gemeente) | 0.0 |
| Vaals | 0.0 |
| Valkenburg aan de Geul | 0.0 |
| Veendam | 0.0 |
| Veenendaal | 0.0 |
| Veldhoven | 0.0 |
| Venlo | 0.0 |
| Vijfheerenlanden | 0.0 |
| Vlaardingen | 0.0 |
| Vlieland | 0.0 |
| Voerendaal | 0.0 |
| Vught | 0.0 |
| Waalre | 0.0 |
| Waalwijk | 0.0 |
| Waddinxveen | 0.0 |
| Wassenaar | 0.0 |
| Waterland | 0.0 |
| Weesp | 0.0 |
| West Maas en Waal | 0.0 |
| Westervoort | 0.0 |
| Westvoorne | 0.0 |
| Wierden | 0.0 |
| Wijchen | 0.0 |
| Wijdemeren | 0.0 |
| Wijk bij Duurstede | 0.0 |
| Woerden | 0.0 |
| Zaanstad | 0.0 |
| Zandvoort | 0.0 |
| Zeist | 0.0 |
| Zoetermeer | 0.0 |
| Zoeterwoude | 0.0 |
| Zuidplas | 0.0 |
| Zutphen | 0.0 |
| Zwartewaterland | 0.0 |
| Zwijndrecht | 0.0 |
| Zwolle | 0.0 |
Source
StatLine – Agriculture; crops, livestock and land use by general farm type, region
Relevant link
News release – Flower exports down by over one-quarter in March
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