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

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Periods Land use Area Utilised agricultural area (UAA) (are) Land use Number of farms Land use, total (number) Land use Number of farms Utilised agricultural area (UAA) (number) Arable land Area Other arable crops (are) Arable land Number of farms Industrial crops (number) Horticulture, in the open Area Horticulture in the open, total (are) Horticulture, under glass Area Horticulture under glass, total (m2) Grassland and forage plants Number of farms Grassland Temporary grass (number) Grazing livestock Number of farms Equidae Horses (number)
2000 197,550,427 97,389 95,944 1,070,187 1,830 8,106,079 105,208,811 11,041 14,146
2005 193,769,503 81,750 80,231 818,942 1,802 8,139,184 105,396,583 16,279 12,209
2010 187,231,940 72,324 70,627 743,895 1,648 8,707,297 103,074,941 14,713 10,711
2015 184,574,562 63,913 62,256 400,191 1,688 9,046,390 92,078,263 22,908 8,481
2020 181,445,084 52,315 51,282 661,411 1,641 9,312,775 100,778,913 21,622 6,159
2021 181,191,192 . 50,677 729,499 1,643 9,480,615 105,547,223 21,650 6,610
2022 180,436,921 . 49,679 746,462 1,542 9,540,604 106,368,923 21,086 .
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


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.

Data available from: 2000

Status of the figures: the 2025 figures are provisional; the other figures are final.

Changes as of November 28, 2025: the provisional 2025 figures 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

Land use
Area
Utilised agricultural area (UAA)
Utilised agricultural area (UAA) is land that is permanently or
temporarily part of the holding, and is mainly used for the production of agricultural goods (crops, livestock), including fallow land and (temporary) grassland.
_
Includes arable land, horticulture in the open, horticulture under glass, grassland and green fodder crops.
Number of farms
Note: the sum of underlying parts may be bigger than the total for the whole group, because a holding may have several activities (such a holding is counted for each activity, but only once in the total).
Land use, total
Utilised agricultural area (UAA)
Utilised agricultural area (UAA) is land that is permanently or
temporarily part of the holding, and is mainly used for the production of agricultural goods (crops, livestock), including fallow land and (temporary) grassland.
_
Includes arable land, horticulture in the open, horticulture under glass, grassland and green fodder crops.
Arable land
Refers to the growing of crops in the open, usually for industrial processing.
Area
Other arable crops
Includes miscanthus and sod.
Number of farms
Note: the sum of underlying parts may be bigger than the total for the whole group, because a holding may have several activities (such a holding is counted for each activity, but only once in the total).
Industrial crops
Crops that are normally not sold directly for consumption because they need to be industrially processed prior to final use.
_
Includes black poppy, industrial chicory, hemp, caraway seed, colza seed, rape seed, linseed, soy beans, flax and sunflowers.
Horticulture, in the open
Refers to the growing of crops in the open, usually directly for
the market.
Area
Horticulture in the open, total
Horticulture, under glass
Refers to the growing of crops under glass or other (accessible) protective cover.
Area
Horticulture under glass, total
Grassland and forage plants
Grassland and green fodder usually serves as fresh forage.
Number of farms
Note: the sum of underlying parts may be bigger than the total for the whole group, because a holding may have several activities (such a holding is counted for each activity, but only once in the total).
Grassland
Temporary grass
Land with herbaceous forage crops, through cultivation (sown) or naturally (self-seeded), that has not been included in the crop rotation on the holding for a maximum of five years.
_
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops in the same area to avoid build-up of pathogens and depletion of soil nutrients.
Grazing livestock
Includes cattle, sheep, goats and equidae.
Number of farms
Note: the sum of underlying parts may be bigger than the total for the whole group, because a holding may have several activities (such a holding is counted for each activity, but only once in the total).
Equidae
Only horses and ponies that are kept on agricultural holdings.
_
From 2010 including donkeys of 6 months and older.
_
In 2022, horses, ponies and donkeys will not be part of the Agricultural Census.
Horses