More bankruptcies in September

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© CBS / Nikki van Toorn
The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has increased. There were 18 more bankruptcies in September than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Nevertheless, the number of pronounced bankruptcies remained at a low level.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearWeekNumber of bankruptcies
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
2021August99
2021September117

Number of bankruptcies at consistently low level

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 August 2021, the number of bankruptcies (on a monthly basis) reached its lowest level since January 1991. The number of bankruptcies remained relatively low one month later as well.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 112 businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt in September. With a total of 18 (6 fewer than in August), the trade sector suffered most.

Trade is among the sectors with the highest number of businesses. In September, the number of bankruptcies was relatively highest in the sector renting and other business services.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
SectorSeptember 2021August 2021
Trade1824
Specialised business services1714
Construction1414
Renting and other business services113
Manufacturing98
Information and communication96
Financial services818
Care69
Transportation and storage43
Accommodation and food services45
Real estate activities30
Education31
Arts, sports and recreation20
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries01
Other service activities02

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