Value of the import and export of tulip bulbs in the Netherlands 2008-2022
Although tulips originally come from Turkey, these days they are mainly associated with the Netherlands. Each spring, thousands and thousands of visitors travel to the country to enjoy the flower spectacles at the Keukenhof and the surrounding tulip fields in the ‘Bollenstreek’. The tulips produced here are mostly destined for export, and the export trade in tulip bulbs and flowers is consistently high. As of August 2022, the value of the tulip bulb export reached 117 million euros.
Production area increases
Between 2008 and 2023, the area used to produce tulip bulbs in the Netherlands increased significantly, from 11,400 hectares in 2008 to 15,000 hectares in 2023. The tulip bulb is the most-widely produced flower bulb in the country, with over two times as many hectares dedicated to its production than to the runner-up, lilies. By contrast, the area used for producing gladioli was over 21 times smaller, at roughly 7,000 hectares.
Germany most important export partner
The most important destination of Dutch plants and flowers was neighboring country Germany, with an export value of over three billion euros in 2023. This was over twice as much as the export value of the flower and plant trade with the second largest trade partner, the United Kingdom (1.3 billion euros). Completing the top three of leading export partners, the value of Dutch export to France was approximately one billion euros.
