Record number of bankruptcies in 2012

  • Dramatic growth corporate bankruptcies
  • Bankruptcy rate high in sectors trade and construction

An unprecedented total of 11,235 businesses and natural persons were declared bankrupt last year, an increase by 18 percent relative to 2011. The previous record dates back to 2009, when Statistics Netherlands registered 10,559 bankruptcies.

Dramatic growth corporate bankruptcies

Last year 7,373 businesses (excluding one-man businesses) went bankrupt, i.e. 19 percent more than in 2011. The number of one-man businesses declared bankrupt rose by 29 percent to 1,243 and 2,619 natural persons went bankrupt (+10 percent).

Sectors trade and construction suffer most

With 1,532, the number of bankruptcies (excluding one-man businesses) was highest in the sector trade, but the construction sector was also hit hard, accounting for 1,213 bankruptcies, an increase by more than 35 percent compared to 2011. The number of bankruptcies was higher in 2012 than in 2011 across nearly all industrial sectors, but declined marginally in the sector hotels and restaurants after a previous substantial rise in 2011.

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