News » 06.07.2026 - Dutch greenhouses damaged during hail storm
Reports of storm damage have poured in from across the Netherlands following severe thunderstorms on Saturday. Damage to greenhouse horticulture appears to be concentrated in Ens, in the Noordoostpolder region, where several greenhouse operations suffered losses running into the millions of euros. Images showing extensive hail damage to glass panes confirm the scale of the destruction.
Kwekerij Wouters is among the businesses hit hardest. The grower has 44 of its 52 hectares located in Ens, and a large part of that site sustained significant hail, glass and water damage. "It was really a narrow band where a thunderstorm supercell passed over the village. In the space of fifteen minutes, hailstones the size of golf balls came down," says general director Aswin Endeman.
Reports from Ens began coming in almost immediately after the storm hit. "Things are really bad here," was a common message. Staff acted quickly to limit further damage, switching off electrical installations, pumping out water and securing screening systems.
Damage assessors and the insurer are now involved, and repair work has begun. The first priority is making the greenhouses safe. After that, the sections with the least damage will be repaired first, so production can resume as quickly as possible.
Not all crops were lost. "We're going to try to save what can be saved," says Endeman. However, the company is being strict about what produce can still be shipped out. "Glass and consumers don't mix. So we're being very careful there. At the same time, we obviously want to do everything we can for our customers, who have of course also been affected by this."
Aerial images of the affected greenhouses of Nursery Wouters in Ens
Ens at the center of greenhouse damage
Insurers Interpolis and AgriVer both saw a surge in calls on Monday morning, with the number of reported claims rising quickly. "We've been open for an hour and a half and have already received 25 reports," says Johan Westerik of AgriVer. The insurer, based in Hasselt near Ens, is familiar with the stories coming out of the hard-hit village. According to Westerik, the insurance coordinator, "virtually no car has been left undamaged." A loss-assessment firm has been sent to affected greenhouse growers in the area.
Damage reports have also come in from other agricultural sectors. Fruit growers have again been affected, as have open-field crops such as maize. Westerik notes that most reports are coming from the eastern Netherlands, and he expects the number of claims to rise further as the day goes on. "We closed out the last claims from the previous weekend's storm on Friday, and then new weather warnings came in straight away. That's when you know things are about to get busy again."
Damage from all over the Netherlands, most from the east
Interpolis is also dealing with a high volume of claims. Spokesperson Annemarie van Dam reports substantial damage at greenhouse businesses in Ens. "A lot of glass has been broken, and crops have also been damaged." Affected businesses were already visited by assessors on Sunday.
Interpolis is receiving damage reports from across the country, though most are concentrated in the east. Besides hail damage, the insurer has also logged reports of damaged roof panels and solar panels, damage from fallen trees, and leaks in offices and farm buildings.
Consequences for production
The coming period will be devoted to clearing up, repairing and assessing the full extent of the damage among affected growers. Kwekerij Baas, another business in Ens, described the damage on LinkedIn: "Hailstones the size of ping-pong balls. That was the painful reality here in Ens last night. The heavy hailstorm caused enormous damage to our nursery. Our greenhouses are badly damaged, which has also caused significant damage to many of our plants."
At Kwekerij Wouters, repairs are now in full swing. Endeman says the company was well prepared for this kind of recovery, with its own stock of glass on hand and additional glass already ordered. "It looks like, at the pace we're able to carry out repairs, we'll have enough glass supplied." Fellow growers have also offered help and space, though Kwekerij Wouters first wants a clearer picture of how much of its own production it can restore. Its second site, in IJsselmuiden, covering 8 hectares, was spared and continues operating, but can only partly offset the production losses in Ens.
Fighting spirit
Despite the scale of the impact, a determined mood prevails at the company. "We had just finished our trial-garden weeks and the atmosphere was extremely positive. We're trying to hold on to that positive vibe." The greatest relief is that no one was injured. Endeman remains alert to the possibility of hidden damage. "You hope that in six months' time you won't still be discovering unforeseen damage that you can't see yet."
Soft-fruit breeder Flevo Berry was also affected. "In the coming weeks we'll focus on cleaning up the site," says director Jan van Anken. "Fortunately, we have a backup of our genetics in cold storage. We've drawn up a recovery plan to save as many plants as possible, seedlings, tips and advanced selections, and we're confident our team can achieve this." Van Anken has asked for understanding if companies are currently unable to reach Flevo Berry, and thanked those who have already offered help and support.
At Kwekerij De Stadsweiden in Harderwijk, the damage was limited. "This greenhouse isn't that old. We have toughened glass. A lot of it has stayed intact," grower Jan van Straaten told Dutch newspaper AD. In Kortenhoef, Kwekerij Ome Joop was also hit, with glass damage visible in images shared on Facebook.
Insurers note that extreme weather regularly leads to significant damage, and that growers can take steps to prepare for it, including fitting greenhouses with toughened glass. Good maintenance of greenhouse structures is also important in preventing damage, they say, as is proper attention to drainage systems, to ensure water can be discharged quickly during heavy rainfall and reduce the risk of water damage.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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