Table Potato Acreage in the Netherlands Hits 25-Year High
The Netherlands is set to record its largest area under table potato cultivation in a quarter of a century, as plantings surge by 8.6% year-on-year to 83,000 hectares, according to the latest figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
This expansion marks the first time since 2000 that the table potato acreage has exceeded 80,000 hectares. The increase reflects a broader rise in arable farming area across the country, which grew 3.1% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 547,000 hectares.
The total potato area in the Netherlands—encompassing table, seed, and starch varieties—is forecast to surpass 164,000 hectares in 2025. Table potatoes now represent a growing share of this total, with CBS noting a continuing shift away from starch potato cultivation. The agency highlighted that less than a quarter of all potatoes grown in the country are now starch varieties.
Seed potatoes account for approximately 5.9% of the planted area, while starch potatoes occupy only 1.9%. Consumption potatoes, which include both table and processing varieties, now constitute roughly half of total production.
CBS also reported area increases in other key crops, including onions and wheat, while the acreage under sugar beet declined.
These shifts in crop distribution signal changing market dynamics and potentially higher demand for table and processing potatoes in both domestic and export markets.
