The arable land area in the Netherlands has experienced a declining trend from 2013 to 2023, standing at 0.99804 million hectares in 2023. This decrease is evident from a peak of 1.045 million hectares in 2014, resulting in a year-on-year negative variation and a fluctuating compound annual growth rate (CAGR) which culminated in a negative -0.45% over the past five years. From 2013 to 2023, notable year-on-year declines included -1.34% in 2016 and -1.54% in 2018.
Forecasts for the next five years (2024-2028) indicate a continued decline, with the arable land area projected to reach 0.98606 million hectares by 2028. The anticipated five-year CAGR is -0.19%, suggesting a gradual but steady reduction in arable land area.
Future trends to watch for include policy changes in agricultural land use, technological advancements in farming, urbanization pressures, and the impact of climate change on land suitability for agriculture. Monitoring these factors could provide critical insights into potential shifts in arable land availability and usage.
