Should a beginner with no farming background lease land or start small on owned land?

For a complete beginner it is usually wiser to start small on owned or low cost land and learn before leasing larger acreage, because farming has a real learning curve and leasing adds fixed rent pressure on top of input risk. Begin with a small area and a crop suited to your soil and water, keep careful records of cost and income, and treat the first year or two as learning. Visit your KVK, talk to successful local farmers, and start with crops that have a clear local market. Once you understand your soil, water, pests and marketing, leasing more land becomes a calculated step rather than a gamble. If you must lease early, keep the area small, get a written lease, and choose lower risk crops. Avoid borrowing heavily for a first venture you have not yet tested.