# Dutch potato harvest falls 17% to 3.5 million tonnes

> Despite the drought in 2026, the provisional estimate from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) puts the potato and onion crops in line with the ten-year average, after record harvests of both in 2025.

Economy · published 2026-10-29 16:49 · https://nlnow.nl/a/dutch-potato-harvest-falls-17-but-matches-ten-year-average/

The gross yield of ware potatoes (consumption potatoes) is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes in 2026, 17% less than a year earlier, according to the provisional arable harvest estimate from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). That is in line with the average of the past ten years, 3.6 million tonnes. Both potatoes and onions had a record harvest in 2025.

The large 2025 harvest left a surplus of potatoes, so arable farmers grew fewer in 2026. The area was 70.3 thousand hectares, which CBS calls relatively low. The yield per hectare is estimated at 49.5 tonnes, almost 3% lower than a year earlier.

**Potato harvest drops from the 2025 record back to the average** (million tonnes; source: CBS (2026 figure is provisional))

- 2017: 4
- 2018: 3.1
- 2019: 3.7
- 2020: 3.7
- 2021: 3.3
- 2022: 3.6
- 2023: 3.4
- 2024: 3.3
- 2025: 4.2
- 2026: 3.5

## Onions and sugar beet

The expected gross yield of seed (sowing) onions is 1.5 million tonnes, 15% less than in 2025. The area fell 1% to 32.6 thousand hectares, and the yield per hectare is estimated at 45.7 tonnes, 14% lower. The yield of second-year onion sets and transplants is 9% higher, grown on a record 7.0 thousand hectares. These onions are grown in the first year and planted out again in spring, so CBS says they were exposed to this summer's heat and drought for less time.

Onion losses in 2026 may be higher, CBS says, because of a greater risk of disease from bacteria and fungi, linked to weather extremes such as drought, heavy rain and hail. Losses are onions that were harvested but are not suitable for further processing.

The sugar beet yield is expected at 6.0 million tonnes, almost 17% less than last year. The area shrank almost 12%, as growers face area limits under European measures meant to counter surpluses on the sugar market.

Experts estimated the yields per hectare from the latest information available. They say yields differ greatly between fields that can be irrigated and those that cannot. 33% of arable farmers reported owning their own irrigation equipment. CBS will publish the final 2026 figures, based on a survey of arable farms, at the end of January 2027.

## Background

- **CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)**: Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.

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