Too many potatoes in Netherlands as 500 million kilo surplus prompts nationwide campaign

The Netherlands is dealing with an estimated 500 million kilos of surplus potatoes following a record harvest, weaker exports, and a saturated market, leaving farmers with limited sales options. At the same time, a national campaign has been launched to push consumption and prevent large-scale food waste.

Food collective No Waste Army is organizing the National Potato Week from April 17 to April 26, bringing together supermarkets, the hospitality sector, and other organizations to encourage people to buy more potatoes. Founder Thibaud van der Steen said, “Good food belongs on the plate, not in the waste bin.”

Farmers across the country are directly affected by the surplus. In Raamsdonk, potato growers Diny and Ard-Jan Oomen say they did not increase production compared with other years but are still left with a large unsold stock.

To reduce their surplus, they have cut prices in their farm shop by half. The discount has drawn more customers, but the stock remains too large to manage through normal sales.

On April 17 and 18, customers can collect pre-ordered potatoes directly from the farm. The growers hope to avoid waste entirely. They said, “The worst thing would be having to let them rot, with a heavy heart.”