Market
Fresh strawberries are a significant Dutch horticultural product, with production increasingly concentrated in greenhouses and polytunnels. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported that more than 86 million kilograms were harvested in 2024, with the under-glass/tunnel segment far larger than field-grown output. The Netherlands is both a producer and an active intra-European trading market: it exports fresh strawberries mainly to nearby European markets while also importing from Spain and Belgium to complement supply. A major production disruption risk is the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), which Wageningen University & Research (WUR) reports has caused major damage in Dutch soft-fruit cultivation (including strawberries).
Market RoleMajor producer and intra-European supplier; also an importer to complement seasonal supply
Market GrowthGrowing (2010–2024)harvest roughly doubled since 2010 while cultivation shifted toward greenhouses and tunnels
Risks
Agricultural Pest HighSpotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) has caused major damage in Dutch soft-fruit cultivation (including strawberries) and can make ripening fruit unmarketable, severely disrupting supply and contract performance.Require documented IPM: monitoring/trapping, hygiene and removal of infested fruit, exclusion measures where feasible, and supplier evidence of control strategies aligned to current WUR guidance.
Food Safety MediumPesticide-residue non-compliance can trigger product withdrawal from the market and may escalate through EU food-safety alert and recall mechanisms.Implement pre-shipment residue testing and strict supplier controls against EU MRL requirements; maintain rapid recall readiness via lot-level traceability.
Regulatory Compliance MediumFor non-EU origin strawberries entering via the Netherlands, missing or incorrect phytosanitary documentation and CHED pre-notification can cause border delays, holds, or refusal of entry.Use a Dutch forwarder experienced with NVWA Client import/CHED workflows; verify phytosanitary certificate scope and any required declarations before dispatch.
Labor And Social Compliance MediumDocumented concerns about migrant worker precarity and poor conditions in Dutch agriculture/greenhouse horticulture can create reputational and customer-compliance risk for strawberry supply chains.Adopt buyer-aligned labour due diligence (contracts, wage compliance, housing standards, grievance mechanisms) and maintain auditable records for third-party reviews.
Labor & Social- Migrant labour reliance in Dutch agriculture and greenhouse horticulture is associated with documented risks of precarious work and poor conditions; this can create buyer-audit and reputational risk for horticultural supply chains.
FAQ
What cultivation systems dominate strawberry production in the Netherlands?CBS reports that Dutch strawberry output has shifted strongly toward greenhouses and tunnels: in 2024 the under-glass/tunnel harvest was far larger than the field-grown harvest, and total harvest exceeded 86 million kg.
Which countries are key trade partners for Dutch fresh strawberries?UN Comtrade data via WITS indicates that Germany and Belgium are major destination markets for Dutch fresh strawberry exports, while Spain and Belgium are leading suppliers of fresh strawberries into the Netherlands.
What are common plant-health entry requirements for non-EU origin strawberries entering the Netherlands?EU plant-health rules generally require a phytosanitary certificate for fruits entering the EU from non-EU countries, and consignments subject to official controls entering via Dutch border control posts require CHED pre-notification through NVWA systems with registration in TRACES.