More bankruptcies

Dutch courts pronounced 1,162 bankruptcies in the third quarter of 2000, 29% more than in the same period in 1999. The number of natural persons declared bankrupt rose by nearly half, while the number of company liquidations was one sixth higher.

Bankruptcies

Compared with the first nine months of 1999 the number of companies and institutions going into liquidation rose by 5%. The increase was reported across all branches of industry. Only in the sector ‘repair of consumer goods’ did the number of bankruptcies fall by 5%.

Relatively speaking, the number of bankruptcies rose by most – 43% – in the sector education, health care, environment and other services. However, the numbers are very small.

In the first nine months of 2000 official debt restructuring settlements were drawn up for 6,200 people.

Bill Swaager