Fewer bankruptcies in July

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© Hollandse Hoogte / Hans van Rhoon
The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has decreased. There were 12 fewer bankruptcies in July than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The number of bankruptcies pronounced in the first seven months of 2021 is more than half lower than in the first seven months of 2020.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearWeekNumber of bankruptcies
2017August231
2017September237
2017October261
2017November251
2017December269
2018January273
2018February232
2018March266
2018April266
2018May259
2018June248
2018July251
2018August257
2018September224
2018October264
2018November277
2018December328
2019January286
2019February254
2019March277
2019April281
2019May264
2019June271
2019July274
2019August261
2019September257
2019October253
2019November288
2019December243
2020January270
2020February273
2020March261
2020April338
2020May267
2020June233
2020July207
2020August177
2020September186
2020October172
2020November180
2020December139
2021January142
2021February114
2021March145
2021April125
2021May131
2021June121
2021July109

Number of bankruptcies at lowest level in more than 30 years

The number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships), adjusted for court session days, fluctuates significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (816); it subsequently declined continuously until August 2017 inclusive and then became fairly stable up until mid-2020. The trend has been downward again since then. In July 2021, the number of bankruptcies (on a monthly basis) reached its lowest level since January 1991.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 103 businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt in July. With a total of 17 (8 fewer than in June), the trade sector suffered most.

Trade is among the sectors with the highest number of businesses. In July, the number of bankruptcies was relatively highest in the construction sector.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
SectorJuly 2021June 2021
Trade1725
Construction1519
Financial services1321
Specialised business services1312
Accommodation and food services107
Renting and other business services916
Transportation and storage66
Manufacturing58
Care56
Information and communication36
Arts, sports and recreation21
Other service activities23
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries11
Real estate activities15
Education01

Figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.