The flower powerhouse of Europe

As the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions eloquently puts it, “If you’re lucky and your plane lands on the Kaagbaan runway at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, your initial view will confirm that the Netherlands is indeed the land of flowers.” In a relatively small area of 42,000 km2 the Netherlands produces 1.7 billion cut flowers per year, representing 60 percent of global trade and with a claim to the title of the “Silicon Valley of the flower industry.”

Flowers, flowers everywhere It has been reported that Q1 this year flower exports were worth €2.1 billion to the Dutch economy, and while cut-flower export value fell slightly in value by 3.5 percent, plant exports grew in both volume and value by 5 percent. But it is not just exports that make this industry so integral to the economy in the Netherlands.

“What stands out about the Netherlands is how much of the flower business sits in a small area: growers, traders, buyers, air cargo and onward distribution. Flowers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia and Ecuador enter that network alongside Dutch production before moving on to customers across Europe. So the economic value goes well beyond growing. It sits in the trading, handling, packaging and transport around it,” Dr.-Ing. Joffrey Mabuma, Founder & Fractional COO, Mabuma & Partners.

The floriculture sector is dependent on airfreight. The intrinsic time sensitivity to flower transportation means it is by far the most effective and efficient mode, and this in turn is where the Netherland’s aerial and ground network is critical.

This story was originally published by Air Cargo Week. Read the full story at Air Cargo Week →