decline

Dutch corporate bankruptcies fell by 4 per cent year-on-year in June to 302, representing 12 fewer failures than the same period last year but an increase of 15 from May. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the overall bankruptcy rate per 100,000 companies dropped to 8.1 from 8.6 a year earlier, though the transport and storage sector suffered a severe spike, jumping to 39.2 per 100,000 firms. This latest data follows a broader historical trend that peaked in 2015, hit a record low in 2021, and has been on a slight downward trajectory since late 2024.

The AEX index fell further on Friday morning, dropping 0.6 per cent to 1,013.32 points as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to buckle. This latest decline follows a 1.2 per cent slump on Thursday, marking a sharp retreat for Amsterdam’s blue-chip stocks after they reached a new closing record just two days ago. Market sentiment turned defensive as investors weighed conflicting reports from Washington and Tehran: while the US military confirmed retaliatory strikes and Iran threatened to respond "vigorously and without hesitation," President Donald Trump maintained the truce was still in effect despite Iranian accusations of ceasefire violations in civilian areas.

According to the Chamber of Commerce (KvK), the number of businesses closing down fell by 7.2% in the first quarter of this year, marking the first decline in two and a half years. While overall start-ups rose by 2%, sectors such as healthcare and the arts saw a drop in new entries due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding self-employment regulations. Experts suggest the general dip in closures indicates that many struggling owners have already exited the market, though strict rules regarding "bogus self-employment" continue to make potential entrepreneurs more hesitant in specific industries.

Dutch industrial output fell by 0.7% in February compared to the previous year, with nearly three-quarters of all sectors seeing a contraction. While the machinery repair industry suffered a sharp 15% decline, other areas like machinery manufacturing saw growth, leaving overall production levels for 2024 relatively flat. Despite this monthly dip in output, business sentiment has shown signs of recovery, as producer confidence became less negative moving into March.

Dutch business investment fell by 2.6 per cent in December 2025, marking a third consecutive monthly decline driven largely by a slump in the aviation and road transport sectors. Despite reduced spending on lorries and vans, growth was recorded in passenger cars, buildings, and defence equipment. Looking ahead, the CBS "investment radar" suggests a less unfavourable climate for early 2026, bolstered by rising industrial capacity and stronger goods exports.