As part of the ambition to make the Wadden Sea region free of plastic, the initiative Wad van Waarde announced a significant expansion of joint flax cultivation in the northern Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. Since the project's launch in 2021 - starting with just 2 hectares of flax across 4 plots in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân - knowledge has been gained and methods refined. The area expanded to 6 hectares in 2022 and reached 11 hectares in 2023. In 2024, the initiative reached 65 hectares and is rapidly approaching 100 hectares. 

Photo: Wad van Waarde

Flax Farming as a contribution to societal challenges 

This upscaling is the result of close cooperation between the Wad van Waarde project, flax producer Van de Bilt Seeds and Flax, Boerennatuur Midden Groningen (a farmer-led nature initiative), and support from the Regional Deal for Nature-Inclusive Agriculture (Regio Deal NIL) in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe. The Regio Deal NIL recognizes flax cultivation as a valuable addition to crop rotation in the arable farming landscape of Northern Netherlands. Growing flax supports societal goals related to reduced use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers, and increased biodiversity. 

Restoring Balance to the land 

Flax cultivation offers a range of ecological benefits: 

- Improves soil quality 

- Boosts biodiversity 

- Requires minimal crop protection 

- Absorbs CO₂ and stores it long-term within the plant 

Since the 1970s, the flax industry in Northern Netherlands—along with its associated knowledge and specialized machinery—has disappeared due to the rise of cheaper cotton and synthetic textiles. 

Eileen Blackmore, founder of Wad van Waarde, sees strong potential in bringing flax back to the region, driven by a growing demand for natural and renewable raw materials: “This is a big opportunity to meet increasing demand while restoring balance on the land,” she says. “We must divide our land among food, feed, materials, housing, and nature. Flax fits well into this balance.” 

Flax as a basis for plastic alternatives 

This large-scale expansion contributes significantly to the development of a (micro)plastic-free Wadden region and supports a growing bio-based economy. Flax is processed into linen, the most sustainable textile, which can be used for a wide range of products including bags, sacks, curtains, jackets, and boat cushions. 

The Wad van Waarde project fosters active collaboration between local farmers, designers, makers, and entrepreneurs. This regional chain cooperation results in valuable alternatives to plastic products. A notable example is the WadZakken collection: locally designed and manufactured using regionally grown flax, these items serve as sustainable alternatives to plastic-based textiles. 

Flax Cooperative in the making 

Three specialized machines are required for flax processing: one for pulling, one for turning, and one for baling. Blackmore explains: “We are currently working on establishing a Flax Cooperative for the Northern Netherlands. The idea is to jointly invest in these machines with local farmers and contractors, and to train people in using them.” The flax is spun in northern France and then woven into fabric in Enschede, the Netherlands. “From there, we create beautiful products right here in Groningen and Friesland,” says Blackmore. “The entire production chain operates within a one-day driving distance.”