Number of bankruptcies hardly changes

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that the number of bankruptcies rose by 1 in November 2015 relative to October. Most bankruptcies were filed in the trade sector.

Downward trend

Adjusted for court session days, the number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 and subsequently dipped in August  2015 to the lowest level since October 2008. In November, the number of businesses declared bankrupt rose by 1 relative to October. This minimal growth comes after  an increase in September and October, but it is premature to conclude that the increase in bankruptcies in the past months will have a structural effect on the overall trend.

Most bankruptcies in trade sector

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 376 businesses and institutions (excluding one-man businesses) were declared bankrupt in November 2015, resulting in a total of 4,786 bankruptcies over the first 11 months of this year, i.e. 22 percent down from the same period last year.

With a total of 69, the trade sector had the highest number of bankruptcies. The sector financial institutions accounted for 66 bankruptcies, but these two sectors include the highest number of businesses. Proportionally, the sector hotels and restaurants recorded the highest number of bankruptcies (30).