From pigs to salmon - Netherlands land-based venture is in the pink

A former pig stables in the Netherlands has been transformed into the country’s first salmon farm in a project co-funded by the EU.

The land-based facility, in Uden, North Brabant, is currently raising 73,000 salmon, with eggs supplied from Iceland, and has a target of 200 tonnes of salmon annually.

The fish will be reared to around 100g indoors before being ongrown outside to 4.5kg and will be processed on site.S

Aquaculture expert

Salmon Farm Maashorst is being led by Rob Dortmans, who is described as a land-based aquaculture expert on his LinkedIn profile.

The salmon have replaced 6,000 pigs, massively reducing nitrogen emissions and eliminating both odor and noise.

Backed by €850,000 in EU funding and €150,000 from the province of North Brabant, it is hoped the farm will supply the domestic market and lessen dependency on imported salmon from Norway.

Served in restaurants

From December, Maashorst salmon will be served in restaurants across the province, which includes the cities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen, and also sold directly from the farm.

With salmon as the most consumed fish in the Netherlands, the project aims to strengthen local food security while pioneering circular and integrated aquaculture.

Meanwhile, former pig farmer John Wijdeven, who farmed pigs for more than 35 years, now manages the catering and educational facilities at the salmon farm.

“A salmon weighs 4.5 kilos, a pig 120. Both are pink but salmon are much easier on the back," he said.