Agriculture; crops, livestock and land use by general farm type, region

Agriculture; crops, livestock and land use by general farm type, region

Farm types Periods Regions Number of farms, total (number)
All farm types 2000 Nederland 97,389
All farm types 2005 Nederland 81,750
All farm types 2010 Nederland 72,324
All farm types 2015 Nederland 63,913
All farm types 2016 Nederland 55,688
All farm types 2017 Nederland 54,849
All farm types 2018 Nederland 53,910
All farm types 2019 Nederland 53,233
All farm types 2020 Nederland 52,695
Specialist field crops 2000 Nederland 14,799
Specialist field crops 2005 Nederland 13,060
Specialist field crops 2010 Nederland 11,962
Specialist field crops 2015 Nederland 12,393
Specialist field crops 2016 Nederland 10,823
Specialist field crops 2017 Nederland 10,691
Specialist field crops 2018 Nederland 10,834
Specialist field crops 2019 Nederland 10,979
Specialist field crops 2020 Nederland 11,174
Specialist horticulture 2000 Nederland 16,910
Specialist horticulture 2005 Nederland 13,415
Specialist horticulture 2010 Nederland 10,198
Specialist horticulture 2015 Nederland 8,043
Specialist horticulture 2016 Nederland 7,388
Specialist horticulture 2017 Nederland 7,079
Specialist horticulture 2018 Nederland 6,742
Specialist horticulture 2019 Nederland 6,786
Specialist horticulture 2020 Nederland 6,920
Specialist permanent crops 2000 Nederland 2,383
Specialist permanent crops 2005 Nederland 1,915
Specialist permanent crops 2010 Nederland 1,825
Specialist permanent crops 2015 Nederland 1,652
Specialist permanent crops 2016 Nederland 1,612
Specialist permanent crops 2017 Nederland 1,612
Specialist permanent crops 2018 Nederland 1,586
Specialist permanent crops 2019 Nederland 1,585
Specialist permanent crops 2020 Nederland 1,508
Specialist grazing livestock 2000 Nederland 45,102
Specialist grazing livestock 2005 Nederland 40,387
Specialist grazing livestock 2010 Nederland 38,024
Specialist grazing livestock 2015 Nederland 33,641
Specialist grazing livestock 2016 Nederland 27,917
Specialist grazing livestock 2017 Nederland 27,561
Specialist grazing livestock 2018 Nederland 26,895
Specialist grazing livestock 2019 Nederland 26,297
Specialist grazing livestock 2020 Nederland 25,933
Specialist granivores 2000 Nederland 10,444
Specialist granivores 2005 Nederland 7,760
Specialist granivores 2010 Nederland 6,479
Specialist granivores 2015 Nederland 5,107
Specialist granivores 2016 Nederland 4,836
Specialist granivores 2017 Nederland 4,649
Specialist granivores 2018 Nederland 4,629
Specialist granivores 2019 Nederland 4,439
Specialist granivores 2020 Nederland 4,164
Specialist mixed cropping 2000 Nederland 1,497
Specialist mixed cropping 2005 Nederland 1,043
Specialist mixed cropping 2010 Nederland 905
Specialist mixed cropping 2015 Nederland 966
Specialist mixed cropping 2016 Nederland 1,075
Specialist mixed cropping 2017 Nederland 1,119
Specialist mixed cropping 2018 Nederland 1,155
Specialist mixed cropping 2019 Nederland 1,127
Specialist mixed cropping 2020 Nederland 1,165
Specialist mixed livestock 2000 Nederland 3,069
Specialist mixed livestock 2005 Nederland 1,876
Specialist mixed livestock 2010 Nederland 1,072
Specialist mixed livestock 2015 Nederland 660
Specialist mixed livestock 2016 Nederland 608
Specialist mixed livestock 2017 Nederland 582
Specialist mixed livestock 2018 Nederland 553
Specialist mixed livestock 2019 Nederland 490
Specialist mixed livestock 2020 Nederland 372
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2000 Nederland 3,185
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2005 Nederland 2,294
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2010 Nederland 1,859
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2015 Nederland 1,451
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2016 Nederland 1,429
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2017 Nederland 1,556
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2018 Nederland 1,516
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2019 Nederland 1,530
Specialist mixed crops/livestock 2020 Nederland 1,459
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains data on land use, arable farming, horticulture, grassland, grazing livestock and housed animals, at regional level, by general farm type.

The figures in this table are derived from the agricultural census. Data collection for the agricultural census is part of a combined data collection for a.o. agricultural policy use and enforcement of the manure law.

Regional breakdown is based on the main location of the holding. Due to this the region where activities (crops, animals) are allocated may differ from the location where these activities actually occur.

The agricultural census is also used as the basis for the European Farm Structure Survey (FSS). Data from the agricultural census do not fully coincide with the FSS. In the FSS years (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2010) additional information was collected to meet the requirements of the FSS.

Reference date for livestock is 1 April and for crops 15 May.

In 2022, equidae are not part of the Agricultural Census. This affects the farm type and the total number of farms in the Agricultural Census. Farms with horses, ponies and donkeys that were previously classified as ‘specialist grazing livestock' could be classified, according to their dominant activity, as another farm type in 2022.

From 2020 onwards, the SO2017, based on the years 2015 to 2019, will apply (see also the explanation for SO: Standard Output).

From 2018 onwards the number of calves for fattening, pigs for fattening, chicken and turkey are adjusted in the case of temporary breaks in the production cycle (e.g. sanitary cleaning).
The agricultural census is a structural survey, in which adjustment for temporary breaks in the production cycle is a.o. relevant for the calculation of the economic size of the holding, and its farm type.
In the livestock surveys the number of animals on the reference day is relevant, therefore no adjustment for temporary breaks in the production cycle are made.
This means that the number of animals in the tables of the agricultural census may differ from those in the livestock tables (see ‘links to relevant tables and relevant articles).

From 2017 onwards, animal numbers are increasingly derived from I&R registers (Identification and Registration of animals), instead of by means of the combined data collection. The I&R registers are the responsibility of RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency). Since 2017, cattle numbers are derived from I&R cattle, and from 2018 sheep, goats and poultry are also derived from the relevant I&R registers. The registration of cattle, sheep and goats takes place directly at RVO. Poultry data is collected via the designated database Poultry Information System Poultry (KIP) from Avined. Avined is a branch organization for the egg and poultry meat sectors. Avined passes the data on to the central database of RVO. Due to the transition to the use of I&R registers, a change in classification will occur for sheep and goats from 2018 onwards.

Since 2016, information of the Dutch Business Register is used to define the agricultural census. Registration in the Business Register with an agricultural standard industrial classification code (SIC), related to NACE/ISIC, (in Dutch SBI: ‘Standaard BedrijfsIndeling’) is leading to determine whether there is an agricultural holding. This aligns the agricultural census as closely as possible to the statistical regulations of Eurostat and the (Dutch) implementation of the definition of 'active farmer' as described in the common agricultural policy.

The definition of the agricultural census based on information from the Dutch Business Register mainly affects the number of holdings, a clear deviation of the trend occurs. The impact on areas (except for other land and rough grazing) and the number of animals (except for sheep, horses and ponies) is limited. This is mainly due to the holdings that are excluded as a result of the new delimitation of agricultural holdings (such as equestrian centres, city farms and organisations in nature management).

In 2011 there were changes in geographic assignment of holdings with a foreign main seat. This may influence regional figures, mainly in border regions.

Until 2010 the economic size of agricultural holdings was expressed in Dutch size units (in Dutch NGE: 'Nederlandse Grootte Eenheid'). From 2010 onwards this has become Standard Output (SO). This means that the threshold for holdings in the agricultural census has changed from 3 NGE to 3000 euro SO. For comparable time series the figures for 2000 up to and including 2009 have been recalculated, based on SO coefficients and SO typology. The latest update took place in 2016.

Data available from: 2000

Status of the figures: the figures for 2023 are provisional, the other figures are final.

Changes as of November 30, 2023: the provisional figures for 2023 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
According to regular planning provisional figures are published in November and the definite figures will follow in March of the following year.

Description topics

Number of farms, total
Holdings that produce agricultural goods commercially, are registered in the Netherlands, and have an economic size >= 3000 euro SO (Standard Output).
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Holdings < 3000 euro SO are very small, e.g. with only 1 dairy cow or 1 are of paprika.
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Up to 2009 the economic size of agricultural holdings was expressed in NGE (Dutch size units). The threshold then was 3 NGE. For comparability the figures from 2000 up to 2009 are recalculated based on SO coefficients. The original threshold however is maintained, so the population remains the same.
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The definition of the agricultural census based on information from the Dutch Business Register mainly affects the number of holdings, a clear deviation of the trend occurs. The impact on areas (except for other land and rough grazing) and the number of animals (except for sheep, and horses and ponies) is limited. This is mainly due to the holdings that are excluded as a result of the new delimitation of agricultural holdings (such as equestrian centres, city farms and organisations in nature management).
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For more explanation on SO and the definition of the agricultural census: see table explanation.