Seasonal tree nursery jobs in Belgium: lifting, potting and grafting

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Belgian nurseries: an export-driven sector

Belgian nurseries grow avenue trees, ornamental shrubs, hedging, conifers, fruit tree stock and young forestry plants, sold to garden centres, public authorities and export markets. The sector combines field-grown and container production, with highly seasonal labour needs.

Unlike fruit picking, nursery work peaks in winter and spring. Seasonal staff find physical but varied tasks, often in small family teams where newcomers quickly learn several growing techniques and can return year after year.

Nursery regions

East Flanders hosts most of the sector, around Ghent, Wetteren, Destelbergen, Lochristi and Laarne, an area historically linked to ornamental horticulture. Nurseries also operate in Antwerp province, West Flanders and, more scattered, in Wallonia, especially for forestry plants.

The work calendar

Lifting of bare-root and root-balled trees runs from November to March, during dormancy. Spring is devoted to potting, spacing containers and dispatching orders. Summer brings bud grafting, pruning and irrigation, while autumn is spent preparing orders for the next lifting season.

Tasks given to seasonal workers

Seasonal staff help with lifting, wrap root balls in hessian, pot plants, label, prune and load lorries. Grafting requires precision and usually prior training. Most tasks take place outdoors, whatever the winter weather brings.

Who can work in a Belgian nursery?

Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland can work without a permit. They need a valid identity document and a bank account, while the employer declares each period of work to social security through Dimona.

Occasional status in nurseries

Nurseries fall under joint committee 145, horticulture, with sub-committee 145.03 for ornamental nurseries and 145.02 for forestry nurseries. They can therefore employ occasional workers, a formula widely used for lifting and dispatch peaks.

Workers from third countries

Non-EU nationals must hold a seasonal work authorisation granted by the competent region before arriving. For more than 90 days the employer files a single permit application combining residence and work, in line with the EU Seasonal Workers Directive.

How many days under this status?

Since 1 July 2023 an occasional worker may work up to 100 days a year in horticulture. The combined total with agriculture remains limited to 100 days. The royal decree of 14 April 2026 clearly extends these caps to agency workers in both sectors.

Pay and working conditions

Occasional horticultural workers receive at least the category one rate of their sub-sector. In ornamental nurseries that rate was 14.79 euros gross per hour on 1 January 2024, and 14.65 euros in forestry nurseries, based on a 38-hour week.

Contributions and withholding tax

Occasional workers' social contributions are calculated on a flat daily wage set by law. Withholding tax is 11.11 percent for residents and 18.725 percent for non-residents. The wage scales quoted have been indexed since 2024.

Part of the net wage may be paid in cash in horticulture, up to 65 euros per week and for eight weeks a year. Each payment must be recorded on a signed receipt and shown as an advance on the payslip.

Weather and equipment

Winter lifting means cold, mud and often rain. Safety boots, thick gloves and waterproof clothing are essential. Days are shorter in winter, with working hours adapted to daylight and frost conditions on the fields.

Steps to find a nursery job

Nurseries mainly recruit in October for the lifting campaign and in February for spring. Here is the recommended route for EU candidates; non-EU candidates depend on the authorisation requested by the employer.

1. Target the Ghent, Wetteren and Lochristi area, the heart of the sector.
2. Search VDAB for boomkwekerij or kwekerijmedewerker.
3. Contact nurseries directly, as many are family firms with little online presence.
4. Submit a CV with gardening experience, driving licence and languages.
5. Get status, sub-committee and wage confirmed in writing.
6. Prepare winter-proof work gear.
7. Keep count of your occasional days during the year.

Table: wages, documents and equipment

The rates shown come from the union wage scale published for January 2024. They help assess an offer, taking into account indexation applied since then and any seniority the worker has built up in the sector.

Pitfalls and mistakes to avoid

The sector is made up of many small businesses, which often means a friendly atmosphere but also uneven administrative practices. A few precautions help ensure decent working conditions throughout the season.

• Starting without a written contract or prior Dimona.
• Arriving without gear suited to cold and mud.
• Accepting pay below the sub-committee's wage scale.
• Paying an intermediary for a permit or a job.
• Forgetting days worked for other horticultural employers.

Can grafting be learned on the job?

The basics can be learned in a few days alongside an experienced grafter, but speed and success rates take several seasons. Skilled grafters are in demand and better paid, often in a wage category above the first.

Is Dutch required?

Most nurseries are in Flanders and operate in Dutch. Many employers nevertheless accept English or hire teams speaking Polish, Romanian or Bulgarian. Understanding safety instructions remains essential, whatever the working language.

Can nursery work last all year?

Some seasonal workers move from winter lifting to spring potting and summer grafting with the same nursery. Under occasional status the 100-day yearly limit applies; beyond that, the employer must offer an ordinary contract, possibly fixed-term.

Is nursery work physically demanding?

Yes. Root balls and containers are heavy, lifting goes on in all weathers and moving between plots is frequent. Good fitness and correct lifting techniques reduce the risk of injury over a long season.