Small Country, Big Numbers: Output Versus Land Area
What does the Netherlands grow? Eurostat's crop statistics (dataset apro_cpsh1, 2015–2024) give a clear answer: in 2024 this small country held three top-three EU positions — first for onions, second for greenhouse tomatoes and third for potatoes.
Onions top the list. The Netherlands produced 1.80 million tonnes (1 803.3 thousand tonnes) in 2024 — 25.7% of the EU-27 harvest of 7.02 million tonnes (7 019.9 thousand tonnes), well ahead of runner-up Spain's 1.39 million tonnes (1 390.8 thousand tonnes). Eurostat flags the onion value with d, a definition change in the series.
Greenhouse tomatoes followed with 828.5 thousand tonnes — 15.6% of EU production and second place behind Spain's 1.50 million tonnes (1 501.8 thousand tonnes). Potatoes completed the podium with 6.37 million tonnes (6 366.8 thousand tonnes), or 12.5% of the EU total, ranking third behind Germany (12.70 million tonnes) and France (9.24 million tonnes).
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | 2024 production (1 000 t) | Share of EU | EU rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onions | 1803.3d | 25.7% | 1 |
| Tomatoes (under glass) | 828.5 | 15.6% | 2 |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 6366.8 | 12.5% | 3 |
The Greenhouse Empire: Europe's Winter Vegetables
The Netherlands' glasshouse sector is a European heavyweight. In 2024 it produced 828.5 thousand tonnes of tomatoes under glass or high cover — 15.6% of EU output for this crop — second only to Spain's 1.50 million tonnes (1 501.8 thousand tonnes), which held 28.2% of EU production.
The same pattern repeats across the greenhouse range. Pepper (capsicum) output reached 406.6 thousand tonnes — 13.7% of the EU total, second behind Spain's 1.52 million tonnes (1 518.6 thousand tonnes) — and cucumbers 416 thousand tonnes, or 17.1% of EU production, again behind Spain (757.6 thousand tonnes).
Greenhouse volumes are also dependable. Between 2015 and 2024, tomato output under glass carried a coefficient of variation (CV) of just 7.3% — Very stable — easing from 890 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 828.5 thousand tonnes in 2024 (-6.9% net). Cucumbers were steadier still, with a CV of 4.5%, edging up from 405 to 416 thousand tonnes (+2.7%).
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | Netherlands (1 000 t) | EU leader | NL share of EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes (under glass) | 828.5 | Spain 1501.8 | 15.6% |
| Peppers (capsicum) | 406.6 | Spain 1518.6 | 13.7% |
| Cucumbers | 416 | Spain 757.6 | 17.1% |
Bulb and Root Power: Onions and Potatoes
The earlier tables crowned the onion; here is the wider field. The Dutch harvest of 1.80 million tonnes (1 803.3 thousand tonnes) grew from 1.50 million tonnes (1 504.1 thousand tonnes) in 2015 (+19.9% net, a 2.04% CAGR), outpacing Spain (1.39 million tonnes / 1 390.8 thousand tonnes), Germany (848.4 thousand tonnes) and France (721.8 thousand tonnes), the next three EU producers. Note that the Dutch and German onion series carry the definition-change flag d for the whole decade.
Potatoes are the volume leader at 6.37 million tonnes (6 366.8 thousand tonnes) — third in the EU behind Germany (12.70 million tonnes) and France (9.24 million tonnes), and far ahead of Spain (1.97 million tonnes / 1 971.2 thousand tonnes). The Dutch crop eased from 6.65 million tonnes (6 651.7 thousand tonnes) in 2015 (-4.3% net), but with a CV of 5.5% it earned a Very stable rating.
Sugar beet completes the line-up in fourth place: 6.35 million tonnes (6 353.7 thousand tonnes), or 5.2% of EU production, behind Germany (36.68 million tonnes), France (32.59 million tonnes) and Poland (18.43 million tonnes). Dutch beet output expanded strongly, from 4.87 million tonnes (4 868.3 thousand tonnes) in 2015 (+30.5% net, a 3.0% CAGR).
All values in 1 000 t. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | Netherlands (1 000 t) | Spain (1 000 t) | Germany (1 000 t) | France (1 000 t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onions | 1803.3d | 1390.8 | 848.4d | 721.8 |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 6366.8 | 1971.2 | 12703.3 | 9237.5 |
The Yield-per-Hectare Race
The yield-per-hectare comparison shows how efficiently Dutch farmland is used. At 41.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024, Dutch potato yields ranked fourth among the seven producers covered in this dataset: Denmark (45.84 t/ha) and Germany (45.02 t/ha) led, France followed at 42.44 t/ha, and the Netherlands out-yielded Spain (32.11 t/ha), Poland (30.2 t/ha) and Italy (28.78 t/ha). No EU-27 average is available for potato yields in the source data.
High yields rest on a steady base: Dutch potato volumes varied with a CV of 5.5% across 2015–2024 — a Very stable grade — and the deepest single-year drawdown of the decade was -18.5%.
Potato yields (R1000) for 2024, in tonnes per hectare. The EU-27 average is not available in the dataset.
| Country | Potato yield 2024 (t/ha) |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 41.7 |
| Germany | 45.02 |
| France | 42.44 |
| Poland | 30.2 |
| Spain | 32.11 |
| Italy | 28.78 |
| Denmark | 45.84 |
What Buyers and Small Food Businesses Should Know
Land data from the same dataset show where the volume is grown. Potatoes occupied 152.7 thousand hectares in 2024 — 11.0% of the EU-27 potato area — sugar beet 84.5 thousand hectares (5.2% of EU area) and onions 38.7 thousand hectares, or 20.4% of the EU onion area, up from 32.2 thousand hectares in 2015. Carrots added 8.6 thousand hectares (8.5% of the EU total).
The glasshouse crops need little land: tomato area was 1.7 thousand hectares and cucumber area 0.6 thousand hectares in 2024, so the large volumes in the earlier tables were produced on a very small harvested footprint.
For buyers, the stability grades matter as much as the volumes. Potatoes (CV 5.5%), greenhouse tomatoes (CV 7.3%) and cucumbers (CV 4.5%) are all Very stable across 2015–2024; onions (CV 11.5%) and sugar beet (CV 12.5%) are Moderately stable. Flags in the source data deserve attention too: the onion series carries d (definition change) throughout, and several other national series include break-in-series flags (b) in 2020 — check the annotations before comparing years.
All values in 1 000 ha. b = break in series, d = definition change, e = estimated, p = provisional.
| Crop | 2024 area (1 000 ha) | Change since 2015 | Share of EU area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onions | 38.7 | +20.4% | 20.4% |
| Potatoes (including seed potatoes) | 152.7 | -1.9% | 11.0% |
| Sugar beet (excluding seed) | 84.5 | +44.6% | 5.2% |
| Carrots | 8.6 | +2.0% | 8.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most onions in the EU?
The Netherlands. In 2024 it harvested 1.80 million tonnes (1 803.3 thousand tonnes) of onions — 25.7% of the EU-27 total — ahead of Spain's 1.39 million tonnes (1 390.8 thousand tonnes). The value carries the definition-change flag d.
How many tonnes of tomatoes do Dutch greenhouses produce?
Dutch growers produced 828.5 thousand tonnes of tomatoes under glass or high cover in 2024 — 15.6% of EU production. Spain remains the EU leader with 1.50 million tonnes (1 501.8 thousand tonnes).
Is the Netherlands a top-five potato producer?
Yes — it ranks third. In 2024 the Netherlands produced 6.37 million tonnes (6 366.8 thousand tonnes) of potatoes, 12.5% of the EU total, behind Germany (12.70 million tonnes) and France (9.24 million tonnes).
Source data extracted from Eurostat dataset apro_cpsh1.
This article was generated using AI. The content is based on Eurostat data and is provided as a starting point — please verify all data with the original source.
