Almost three quarters of entrepreneurs experience more uncertainty
Statistics Netherlands | CBS
Source published: 26 September 25
Almost three quarters of entrepreneurs experience more uncertainty
Almost three quarters of entrepreneurs experience more economic uncertainty due to changes in demand, geopolitics, and domestic policy.
Almost three quarters of entrepreneurs experienced more economic uncertainty in the past year. The main causes were changes in demand or market, geopolitics, and domestic policy. To cope with this, entrepreneurs most often increase their internal flexibility or postpone investments. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) based on the business survey from July 2025.
This research was conducted among companies with five or more employees, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), the Economic Institute for the Building Industry (EIB), the organization for small and medium-sized enterprises MKB-Nederland, and the entrepreneurs association VNO-NCW.
The most mentioned cause of increasing uncertainty was changes in demand or market, with over a third of entrepreneurs indicating this. Geopolitics was also an important cause, with 28 percent of entrepreneurs naming it as one of the main causes of increased uncertainty. Additionally, domestic policy or regulations were a significant cause of increasing uncertainty for over 22 percent of entrepreneurs.
Industries differ in experienced uncertainty and causes
The share of entrepreneurs experiencing more uncertainty varies greatly by industry. In transport and storage, wholesale and trade mediation, agriculture, and industry, this share was relatively high at around 80 percent. In the car trade and business services, this share was relatively low at around 65 percent.
Of the entrepreneurs in the car trade and repair who experienced more uncertainty, 63 percent indicated that changes in demand or market were one of the main causes. Geopolitical developments were most often mentioned in wholesale and industry. In real estate rental and trading as well as in construction, domestic policy or regulations were the main cause of uncertainty. In hospitality and retail, entrepreneurs primarily cited inflation and interest rate developments. In hospitality, this was the main cause, with over 43 percent of entrepreneurs with increased uncertainty indicating this.
Geopolitics (wars, trade tensions)
Domestic policy or regulations
% companies with increased uncertainty
1)Entrepreneurs could choose a maximum of two answers
Increasing internal flexibility is the main measure
In the past year, 61 percent of entrepreneurs experienced increased economic uncertainty and took measures against it. The remaining 39 percent did not experience increasing uncertainty or did not take specific measures. The most mentioned measure was increasing internal flexibility: over a quarter of entrepreneurs indicated this. Additionally, 19 percent of entrepreneurs stated they postponed or reduced investments, and 17 percent mentioned building financial buffers and tighter liquidity management as a response to the increased uncertainty.
Approach to uncertainty varies by industry
The share of entrepreneurs experiencing increased uncertainty and taking measures against it varies by industry. In industry and agriculture, this share was relatively high at around 70 percent, while in the car trade and repair and in hospitality, it was relatively low at around 53 percent.
In the information and communication industry and in business services, entrepreneurs experiencing increased uncertainty and taking measures against it most often focused on increasing internal flexibility. For entrepreneurs in real estate rental and trading, agriculture, and hospitality, postponing investments topped the list of measures taken. In the car trade and repair and in construction, entrepreneurs relatively often indicated building financial buffers and organizing liquidity management more tightly.
Postponing or reducing investments
Building financial buffers, liquidity management
% companies with increased uncertainty that take measures
1)Entrepreneurs could choose a maximum of two answers
