Dutch economy shows mixed signals as consumer confidence drops and unemployment rises
The latest economic indicators reveal a slight downturn in the Netherlands, with rising unemployment, more bankruptcies, and shrinking investments. While exports and home prices are up, consumer pessimism and fewer job vacancies signal challenges ahead for households and businesses.
| Indicator | Change (March 2026) |
|---|---|
| Consumer confidence | Below long-term average, more pessimistic |
| Producer confidence | Above long-term average, less negative |
| Goods exports (Jan 2026) | +1.1% compared to Jan 2025 |
| Household consumption (Jan) | Unchanged from Jan 2025 |
| Investments (Jan 2026) | -1.4% compared to Jan 2025 |
| Industrial production (Jan) | +1.1% compared to Jan 2025 |
| Bankruptcies (Feb 2026) | +17% compared to Jan 2026 |
| Existing home prices (Feb) | +5.4% compared to Feb 2025 |
| Unemployment (Feb 2026) | 416,000 unemployed, 4.1% of working population |
| Vacancies (Q4 2025) | 380,000, down 7,000 from previous quarter |
| GDP growth (Q4 2025) | +0.5% compared to Q3 2025 |
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) monitors economic trends through tools like the Business Cycle Clock, providing critical data for policymakers and businesses. Their reports help shape government decisions on economic policy, labor market interventions, and fiscal measures to stabilize or stimulate growth.
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Economic outlook slightly more negative in March
The economic outlook according to the Conjunctuurklok (Business Cycle Clock) of Statistics Netherlands (CBS) was slightly more negative in March than in February. In the March Conjunctuurklok, 9 of the 13 indicators performed worse than their long-term trend.
Consumers more pessimistic, producers less negative
Consumers were more pessimistic in March than in February, while producers were less negative. Producer confidence was above the average of the past twenty years, whereas consumer confidence was below it.
Exports grow, household consumption unchanged, investments shrink
The volume (adjusted for working days) of goods exports was 1.1 percent higher in January than in January 2025. Companies mainly exported more raw materials, textiles, and clothing.In January, households consumed the same amount as in January 2025 (adjusted for price changes and shopping days). This applied to both goods and services.In January 2026, the volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was 1.4 percent lower than a year earlier. A month earlier, the contraction was 2.3 percent. Investment has particularly declined in buildings, passenger cars, and infrastructure.
Industrial production 1 percent higher in January
The calendar-adjusted production of the Dutch industry was 1.1 percent higher in January than in January 2025. After adjusting for seasonal and calendar effects, production rose by 0.4 percent compared to December.
More bankruptcies in February
In February, 40 more businesses (including sole proprietorships), adjusted for sitting days, were declared bankrupt than in January. This represents an increase of 17 percent.
Existing home prices over 5 percent higher in February
In February, the prices of existing owner-occupied homes were on average 5.4 percent higher than a year earlier. Compared to January, prices rose by an average of 0.1 percent.
Fewer hours worked, fewer vacancies, more unemployed
In February, there were 416,000 unemployed people. Over the past three months, the number of unemployed has increased by an average of 3,000 per month. This means that 4.1 percent of the working population aged 15 to 75 was unemployed.Employees and self-employed people worked a total of 3.7 billion hours in the fourth quarter. This is, after adjusting for seasonal effects, 0.1 percent less than in the previous quarter.At the end of the fourth quarter, there were 380,000 open vacancies, a decrease of 7,000. The number of vacancies has been declining almost every quarter for three years.The turnover of temporary employment agencies and labor mediation was 0.4 percent higher in the fourth quarter of last year than in the same quarter of 2024.
GDP rises 0.5 percent in fourth quarter of 2025
According to the second estimate by CBS, gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter. The rise in GDP is mainly attributable to the trade balance.
Relevant links
- Visualization - Conjunctuurklok
- Dossier - Conjunctuur