Gardening in the Netherlands: from clay polders to sandy heaths

The Netherlands: gardening above and below sea level

The Netherlands is a garden country par excellence. Nowhere else in the world is horticultural culture so deeply woven into daily life. From the bulb fields of the Bollenstreek to the cottage gardens of Twente, from sleek Amsterdam courtyard gardens to lush Zeeland country gardens — the Dutch garden is as varied as the country itself.

The climate is temperate maritime: mild winters, cool summers and rainfall spread throughout the year. Hardiness zones 8a to 8b cover most of the country, with zone 7b in the colder pockets of Drenthe and the Veluwe. That makes the Netherlands suitable for an enormous range of plants.

Soil map of the Netherlands

Clay regions (west and north)

The clay of Holland and Friesland is heavy, fertile and moisture-retentive. Brilliant for roses, fruit trees and grassland. The difficulty: the soil stays wet in spring and is hard to work. Wait until it crumbles before planting or digging. Never walk on wet clay — you destroy the structure.

Peat regions (Green Heart, Friesland)

Peat soil is acidic, wet and prone to subsidence. Excellent for rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries and heathers. Less suitable for lime-loving species. Drainage is the keyword — without proper water management, roots will rot.

Sandy regions (east and south)

The Veluwe, Brabant, Drenthe: light sandy soil that warms quickly, dries fast and lacks nutrients. Ideal for Mediterranean herbs, ornamental grasses and drought-tolerant perennials. Add compost every year, mulch generously and choose plants that need little water.

Loess region (South Limburg)

The loess soil of South Limburg is unique in the Netherlands: fine-grained, fertile and free-draining. Virtually everything grows here — from walnuts to grapevines. The microclimate in the Maas valley with its sheltered slopes even allows figs and kiwis.

Top plants for Dutch gardens

Perennials

Geranium macrorrhizum blooms for months and tolerates everything. Salvia nemorosa brings blue-purple to the border. Echinacea attracts butterflies. Rudbeckia provides autumn colour until the first frost. Ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus and Molinia are the stars of the modern Dutch garden.

Bulbs

The Netherlands is bulb country. Plant tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths in October. Lesser-known gems include Camassia leichtlinii (blue as a piece of sky) and Allium christophii (purple stars in June). Let the foliage die back naturally after flowering — the bulb needs those nutrients for next year.

Shrubs

Hydrangeas perform well everywhere. Viburnum bodnantense flowers in the middle of winter with a delightful fragrance. Amelanchier (serviceberry) delivers spring blossom, summer fruit and autumn colour in a single plant.

Fruit trees

Apple and pear are the classics. Choose rootstocks that match your space: M9 for small gardens, M26 for medium ones. Cherry trees grow large — select a dwarfing rootstock or a columnar form. Plums (Victoria, Opal) are remarkably reliable.

The Dutch garden year

March: The garden awakens. Cut back ornamental grasses, feed borders, sow under glass.

April to May: Planting season in full swing. Perennials, annuals after the Ice Saints, potatoes in the ground.

June to July: Enjoy and maintain. Trim hornbeam and privet hedges. Water during dry spells — early morning or late evening.

August to September: Second flush of perennials. Begin planting new hedges.

October to November: Bulb time. Plant everything you want to see bloom in spring. Tidy up, compost, winterise the garden.

December to February: Prune fruit and ornamental trees. Plan your garden design for the new season.

The Dutch front garden

In no country is the front garden as visible as in the Netherlands. Open, unfenced, right on the street — the front garden is a statement. The trend is moving from paving to planting: councils encourage greening, and rightly so. Upload your front garden at gardenworld.app and discover how green your street could become. The difference is astonishing.

Gardening with water

The Netherlands and water are inseparable. Rain barrels, swales in the garden and water-retaining planting are not luxury but necessity. Plant willows, bog plants or ornamental grasses in damp corners. Turn a water problem into a design feature — a channel with stepping stones and marsh plants looks far better than a drainage pipe.