Netherlands Horticulture Work Experience Program

The Dutch Horticulture sector is a global trendsetter and the undisputed international market leader in flowers, plants, bulbs and propagation material.

Holland has a 44% share of the worldwide trade in floricultural products, making it the dominant global supplier of flowers and flower products. Some 77% of all flower bulbs traded worldwide come from the Netherlands, the majority of which are Tulips. 40% of the trade in 2015 was cut flowers and flower buds.

The sector is the Number 1 exporter to the world for live trees, plants, bulbs, roots and cut flowers. The sector is the Number 3 exporter in nutritional horticulture products.

Of the approximately 1,800 new plant varieties that enter the European market each year, 65% originate in the Netherlands. In addition, Dutch breeders account for more than 35% of all applications for community plant variety rights.

The Dutch are one of the world’s largest exporters of seeds: the exports of seeds amounted to € 3.1 billion in 2014.

In 2014 the Netherlands was the world’s second-largest exporter (in value) of fresh vegetables. The Netherlands exported vegetables with a market value of € 7 billion.