Ens, Netherlands hit by hailstorm causing millions in greenhouse damage

Severe thunderstorms on Saturday produced a narrow band of hailstones the size of golf balls that swept over the village of Ens in the Noordoostpolder region. The storm shattered glass panes and flooded greenhouse structures, causing damage estimated in the millions of euros.

The horticulture firm Kwekerij Wouters, with 44 of its 52 hectares located in Ens, was among the hardest hit. General director Aswin Endeman described the rapid on‑site response: staff switched off electricity, pumped out water and secured screening systems while damage assessors and insurers arrived.

Insurers Interpolis and AgriVer reported a surge in claims, receiving 25 reports within the first hour and a half of the day. Most of the reported damage comes from the eastern Netherlands and includes broken glass, roof and solar‑panel damage, fallen trees and leaks in farm buildings.

Repair work has begun, prioritising safety and then fixing the least‑damaged greenhouse sections to resume production as quickly as possible. Not all crops were lost, and growers are carefully deciding which produce can still be shipped. Other local growers, such as Kwekerij Baas, have also confirmed extensive hail damage to their facilities.