More bankruptcies in April

12/05/2023 15:33

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.

The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has increased. There were 26 more bankruptcies in April than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This is an increase of 12 percent. The number of bankruptcies remained below the pre-pandemic level. In the first four months of this year, however, it was more than one and a half times higher than in the same period last year.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Week	Number of bankruptcies
2019	May	312
2019	June	304
2019	July	312
2019	August	303
2019	September	316
2019	October	290
2019	November	342
2019	December	297
2020	January	311
2020	February	333
2020	March	280
2020	April	382
2020	May	406
2020	June	257
2020	July	227
2020	August	195
2020	September	212
2020	October	190
2020	November	210
2020	December	174
2021	January	172
2021	February	143
2021	March	165
2021	April	193
2021	May	163
2021	June	139
2021	July	125
2021	August	109
2021	September	141
2021	October	126
2021	November	183
2021	December	159
2022	January	139
2022	February	182
2022	March	166
2022	April	119
2022	May	189
2022	June	164
2022	July	148
2022	August	148
2022	September	174
2022	October	219
2022	November	228
2022	December	269
2023	January	228
2023	February	277
2023	March	212
2023	April	238

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Week	Number of bankruptcies
2019	May	312
2019	June	304
2019	July	312
2019	August	303
2019	September	316
2019	October	290
2019	November	342
2019	December	297
2020	January	311
2020	February	333
2020	March	280
2020	April	382
2020	May	406
2020	June	257
2020	July	227
2020	August	195
2020	September	212
2020	October	190
2020	November	210
2020	December	174
2021	January	172
2021	February	143
2021	March	165
2021	April	193
2021	May	163
2021	June	139
2021	July	125
2021	August	109
2021	September	141
2021	October	126
2021	November	183
2021	December	159
2022	January	139
2022	February	182
2022	March	166
2022	April	119
2022	May	189
2022	June	164
2022	July	148
2022	August	148
2022	September	174
2022	October	219
2022	November	228
2022	December	269
2023	January	228
2023	February	277
2023	March	212
2023	April	238

Number of bankruptcies low

The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, fluctuates significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (911); it subsequently declined continuously until August 2017 inclusive, after which it remained fairly stable until mid-2020. It then followed a downward trend again, reaching a record low in August 2021. After August 2022, the number of bankruptcies increased for four months in a row, but remained relatively low The number fluctuated in the following months.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, in April a total of 218 businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt. The trade sector suffered most with 43 bankruptcies; this is a decrease of 7 percent relative to March.

The trade sector is one of the sectors with the largest number of businesses. In April, relatively the highest number of bankruptcies was pronounced in the sector transportation and storage.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
Sector	April 2023	March 2023
Trade	43	46
Construction	29	26
Specialised business services	26	16
Renting and other business services	19	7
Accommodation and food services	17	18
Manufacturing	16	28
Transportation and storage	16	16
Financial services	16	22
Information and communication	9	6
Arts, sports and recreation	6	5
Other service activities	6	0
Education	5	2
Care	4	10
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	3	0
Real estate activities	2	5

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
Sector	April 2023	March 2023
Trade	43	46
Construction	29	26
Specialised business services	26	16
Renting and other business services	19	7
Accommodation and food services	17	18
Manufacturing	16	28
Transportation and storage	16	16
Financial services	16	22
Information and communication	9	6
Arts, sports and recreation	6	5
Other service activities	6	0
Education	5	2
Care	4	10
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	3	0
Real estate activities	2	5

Sources

StatLine - Bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days
StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, SIC 2008
StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, regions