Agronomic analysis of nitrogen performance indicators in intensive arable cropping systems: An appraisal of big data from commercial farms

•The framework of the EU N Expert Panel was applied to farmer field data covering the period 2015–2017.•N-use efficiency (NUE) was on average 0.7–1.0 kg N kg−1 N for Dutch arable crops.•Annual N surplus (Ns) was on average 20–80 kg N ha−1 for Dutch arable crops.•In Dutch farming, technological advances without reducing N inputs are unlikely to improve NUE or N surplus.•Highest NUE and lowest Ns can be achieved with mineral fertilisers, which comes with trade-offs at national level.