Dutch food forests expand rapidly, covering 367 hectares in 2025
The Netherlands has seen a surge in food forests, with their total area increasing tenfold in five years. These sustainable ecosystems provide year-round crops and benefit both farmers and the environment, offering fresh produce and biodiversity gains for citizens.
| Key Data Point | Value |
|---|---|
| Total food forest area (2025) | 367 hectares |
| Number of businesses (2025) | 231 |
| Growth since 2020 | 10x increase in area |
| Average size (2025) | 1.6 hectares per business |
| Organic certification | 22% of total food forest area |
| Top province | Noord-Brabant (77 hectares) |
| Largest average size | Flevoland (3.7 hectares) |
| Smallest average size | Fryslân (0.7 hectares) |
| Most common business type | Permanent crop businesses |
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) monitors agricultural trends, including the rise of food forests, to inform government policies on sustainable farming and land use. Their data helps shape subsidies and regulations supporting eco-friendly agricultural practices.
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Food forest area has increased tenfold in five years
In 2025, there were 231 agricultural businesses with a food forest. Together, these covered an area of 367 hectares. Compared to the previous year, the area has doubled and is ten times larger than in 2020. At that time, there were still 29 businesses with food forests, with a total area of 36 hectares. This is evident from the final figures of the agricultural census conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
A food forest is designed to harvest fruits, seeds, nuts, and other crops throughout the year. A food forest forms an ecosystem and consists of multiple layers, including trees and shrubs as well as herbs, ground covers, underground crops, and climbing plants. In 2025, the average size of a food forest on agricultural businesses was 1.6 hectares.
Food forests account for approximately 1.8 percent (367 hectares) of the area used by permanent crop businesses, which together have over 20,000 hectares of cultivation area. Permanent crop businesses primarily grow fruits and nuts from perennial plants such as shrubs and trees.
The total agricultural area of all agricultural businesses combined covers 1.8 million hectares. Nearly 22 percent of the food forest area is certified organic.
North Brabant has the most food forests
North Brabant has the highest number of food forests, with 50 businesses (77 hectares). The province with the fewest food forests is Groningen, with 5 businesses, together covering less than 8 hectares.
The businesses with the largest food forests are located in Flevoland, with an average size of 3.7 hectares. Friesland has the smallest food forests: an average of 0.7 hectares per business.
Food forests most common among permanent crop businesses
Food forests are relatively common among permanent crop businesses. Of the 1,500 permanent crop businesses, 6 percent have one or more food forests, together covering 234 hectares. This type of business also has the largest food forests, with an average size of 2.6 hectares per business. Of all agricultural businesses, 0.5 percent have a food forest.
Permanent crop businesses can be divided into fruit businesses and other permanent crop businesses. The majority of food forests (over 228 hectares) are found on 80 other permanent crop businesses. The remaining 5.6 hectares are on ten fruit businesses.
Food forests are least common among livestock and dairy businesses: seven of these businesses together account for 1.9 hectares of food forest.
Most food forests are on small businesses
Small businesses with a standard output of €25,000 to €100,000 most often have a food forest. 89 of these agricultural businesses, over 38 percent of the businesses with food forests, manage a total of 94 hectares.
The slightly larger businesses with a standard output between €100,000 and €250,000 together have the largest area: 130 hectares. 45 of these businesses have a food forest of nearly 3 hectares, the same size as the average food forest of the largest businesses with a standard output of €250,000 to €500,000.
The smallest food forests are found on the smallest businesses, with an average size of 0.4 hectares and a standard output between €3,000 and €25,000.