Rotterdam, February 12, 2025 โ A new report from business data expert Altares Dun & Bradstreet reveals that a total of 4,119 companies went bankrupt in 2024, 909 more than in 2023. This represents an increase of nearly 30%, which is noticeable across almost all sectors.ย
The most bankruptcies in 2024 occurred in trade (791), construction (581), and specialized business services (470). Relatively speaking, the hardest-hit sectors were transportation and storage (0.73%), hospitality (0.73%), and industry (0.62%).
Compared to 2023, the number of bankruptcies increased the most in the agriculture sector (+73.33%), rental and other business services (+66.88%), and specialized business services (+53.09%). The increase was less pronounced in the real estate rental and trade sector (+10.77%) and education (+18.42%).
“Despite the 30% increase in bankruptcies, there is no immediate cause for concern.," says Barry de Goeij, senior data scientist at Altares Dun & Bradstreet."The current level of bankruptcies is in line with that of the pre-COVID period (2017-2019) and is significantly lower than during previous economic crises.”
Bankruptcies per province
In 2024, the most bankruptcies were recorded in South Holland (770), followed by North Holland (760) and North Brabant (749). In almost all provinces, the number of bankruptcies increased compared to 2023, except in Flevoland, where a decrease of 7.69% was recorded.
The strongest increases were seen in Overijssel (+78.92%), Drenthe (+44.59%), and Limburg (+44.19%).
Dutch trade less intensive in 2024
At the same time, Dutch companies traded slightly less intensively with each other in 2024. Trade intensity reached 83.8 points, a slight decrease of 0.2 compared to 2023 (84.0). Although this difference is small, the decline was significant in certain sectors. The industry (-13.83), government (-13.08), and hotel sector (-11.73) experienced the largest drops in trade intensity.ย
Invoices paid on time more often
At the same time, there was a positive development in the payment behavior of Dutch companies. In 2024, 89.92% of businesses paid their invoices on time, a slight increase compared to 2023 (88.56%). Additionally, the average payment delay decreased from 2.08 days in 2023 to 1.85 days in 2024.ย
Outlook for 2025ย
“The Dutch economy has once again demonstrated resilience in 2024 and has proven to withstand economic fluctuations. As more companies continue to repay their COVID-related debts, I expect a slight increase in bankruptcies in 2025. This does not indicate a massive wave of bankruptcies but rather a natural development within the business climate: as more companies are established, the number of bankruptcies also rises. Despite this natural increase, the bankruptcy risk is expected to remain stable, as the Dutch economy continues to grow steadily," says De Goeij.
โHowever, there are geopolitical factors that could impact the Dutch economy in 2025.," he adds."The political developments in the United States and the uncertain international trade policy could put pressure on Dutch exports. Additionally, the German economy experienced a contraction in 2024, with the industry being particularly affected. If this situation worsens further, it will likely also impact Dutch trade and industry.โ
