The storm hit the northeastern part of the horticultural area affecting both vegetable and ornamental plant growers.
Hortisecur began assessing the damage the following morning and coordinating emergency measures with the affected businesses. While the full impact is still being calculated, initial inspections point to widespread structural damage as well as significant crop losses.
Replacement glass could take weeks
One of the immediate challenges facing growers is repairing the damaged greenhouse structures.
According to Peter Post of Hortisecur, replacement glass is expected to take around three weeks to arrive from European suppliers. Importing cheaper glass from Asia would involve much longer lead times.
Finding the correct dimensions is also proving difficult. The panes used in some of the damaged structures are an uncommon size in the Dutch greenhouse sector, leaving few replacement stocks immediately available.
The storm also scattered broken glass beyond the greenhouse sites, with fragments reported on nearby roads and in gardens, creating additional clean-up work and safety concerns.
Emergency walls to protect remaining crops
Temporary measures are now being installed inside the affected greenhouses in an attempt to isolate damaged sections and save part of the production.
Temporary walls are being erected so that growers can maintain suitable conditions in areas where crops may still be recoverable. Other sections have already been considered a total loss.
Among those affected is cucumber grower Van Winden, where part of the crop will have to be removed. Hortisecur said there is still a possibility of preserving another section, and a recovery plan has been prepared with the contractors required to carry out the work.
Supply to customers also affected
The storm is also disrupting commercial operations.
Ornamental grower VDH Plant, which markets plants through its Het Plantenkarretje business, said plants currently located outside the greenhouse remain available for sale. However, it warned that once existing stocks are sold, some products may not be replenished because large quantities of broken glass remain among the plants.
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The damage is therefore expected to affect not only greenhouse infrastructure and crop volumes, but also the ability of some businesses to maintain normal customer supply.
Drone footage reveals extent of destruction
Pepper grower Jordy van der Lans, whose own business escaped damage, used a drone to document the affected area and support neighbouring growers and insurers during the assessment.
The aerial images showed the scale of the destruction across the greenhouse complex and are helping insurers evaluate both structural and crop-related losses.
Hortisecur said the final figure is still being determined, but expects the combined damage across the four businesses to reach several million euros.
