The Netherlands: Europe’s dairy producer

In 2023, the Dutch dairy industry exported about 3 billion euros worth of dairy products to Germany. That makes our eastern neighbors the largest consumer of Dutch dairy products. The Netherlands is also an important food producer for the rest of Europe. As much as 75 percent of Dutch dairy remains in the Netherlands and Europe. NZO director Joep Rats brought this to the attention of Minister Piet Adema of LNV today at the Berlin International Green Week, while gifting him a wedge of Gouda cheese.

Dutch dairy stays relatively close to home. More than half – 55 percent – of all milk processed by Dutch dairy companies stays in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Dutch cheese is especially popular in these countries. Three-quarters of Dutch dairy production stays in the European Union. Last year, total Dutch dairy exports amounted to about 10 billion euros.

How do the Dutch feel about dairy?
Dairy products are also popular at home. Research by GfK Panel’s ‘Dairy Barometer’ commissioned by NZO shows that 98 percent of all Dutch people drink and eat dairy. They think milk and milk products are healthy and natural. Also, 93 percent believe that cheese is an integral part of the Netherlands.

Of the Dutch, 85 percent consider dairy farming and the dairy industry important to the Dutch economy. The Dutch dairy sector plays an important role in the earning power of Dutch business: seven percent of our national trade surplus is attributable to dairy.

• What do the Dutch think of dairy?
• Dutch Dairy at a glance 2024