Most food and beverage businesses involved event catering (27 thousand establishments), followed by restaurants (16 thousand), other eateries, such as snack bars, fast food restaurants, lunchrooms, food stalls and ice cream parlours (16 thousand), including bars and cafés (8 thousand), canteens and contract caterers (1 thousand).
Food and beverage establishments, 1 October of each year
Jaar
Restaurants (x 1,000)
Other eateries (x 1,000)
Event catering (x 1,000)
Canteens and contract caterers (x 1,000)
Bars and cafés (x 1,000)
2007
10.390
9.900
4.240
1.170
12.065
2008
10.465
10.140
4.570
1.190
11.970
2009
10.730
10.225
4.730
1.195
11.525
2010
10.975
10.245
5.050
1.180
11.010
2011
11.160
10.530
5.440
1.145
10.750
2012
11.485
11.060
5.860
1.145
10.565
2013
11.690
11.275
6.060
1.115
10.375
2014
12.480
11.865
6.215
1.110
10.205
2015
12.950
12.520
6.875
1.140
10.035
2016
13.280
13.070
7.925
1.135
9.860
2017
13.645
13.620
8.685
1.145
9.535
2018
13.960
13.970
9.830
1.150
9.290
2019
14.310
14.430
12.220
1.150
9.130
2020
14.630
14.830
15.040
1.095
8.875
2021
15.240
15.810
15.815
1.055
8.675
2022
15.425
16.120
19.360
1.035
8.255
2023
16.230
16.275
24.415
1.070
8.255
2024
16.460
16.285
27.110
1.065
8.080
Food and beverage establishments, 1 October of each year
Jaar
Restaurants (x 1,000)
Other eateries (x 1,000)
Event catering (x 1,000)
Canteens and contract caterers (x 1,000)
Bars and cafés (x 1,000)
2007
10.390
9.900
4.240
1.170
12.065
2008
10.465
10.140
4.570
1.190
11.970
2009
10.730
10.225
4.730
1.195
11.525
2010
10.975
10.245
5.050
1.180
11.010
2011
11.160
10.530
5.440
1.145
10.750
2012
11.485
11.060
5.860
1.145
10.565
2013
11.690
11.275
6.060
1.115
10.375
2014
12.480
11.865
6.215
1.110
10.205
2015
12.950
12.520
6.875
1.140
10.035
2016
13.280
13.070
7.925
1.135
9.860
2017
13.645
13.620
8.685
1.145
9.535
2018
13.960
13.970
9.830
1.150
9.290
2019
14.310
14.430
12.220
1.150
9.130
2020
14.630
14.830
15.040
1.095
8.875
2021
15.240
15.810
15.815
1.055
8.675
2022
15.425
16.120
19.360
1.035
8.255
2023
16.230
16.275
24.415
1.070
8.255
2024
16.460
16.285
27.110
1.065
8.080
Growth seen among sole traders in event catering, in particular
The number of sole traders in the food and beverage business almost tripled between 2007 and 2024. This is actually nearly 10 times more than it was in 2007. If small businesses are excluded, growth in businesses offering food and beverages was 32 percent instead of 83 percent.
Change in number of food and beverage establishments between 2007 and 2024, 1 October
Total (% change)
Sole traders (% change)
Larger businesses (% change)
Restaurants
58
71
55
Other eateries
64
53
71
Event catering
539
851
62
Canteens and contract caterers
-9
5
-26
Bars and cafés
-33
-34
-33
Total
83
170
32
Change in number of food and beverage establishments between 2007 and 2024, 1 October
Total (% change)
Sole traders (% change)
Larger businesses (% change)
Restaurants
58
71
55
Other eateries
64
53
71
Event catering
539
851
62
Canteens and contract caterers
-9
5
-26
Bars and cafés
-33
-34
-33
Total
83
170
32
Food and beverage establishments in Flevoland tripled
A business can have multiple establishments, which is why there were more food and beverage establishments (over 74 thousand) than businesses (nearly 68 thousand on 1 January 2024). The number of sole traders in the food and beverage business has grown the fastest the province of Flevoland, where it has almost tripled between 2007 and 2024. Two provinces that also ranked in the top three for highest economic growth were Noord-Holland and Utrecht. These provinces also had the highest population growth rate compared with 2007.
Change in number of establishments in the food and beverage business between 2007 and 2024, 1 January
Provincie
Establishments (% change)
Flevoland
197
Noord-Holland
144
Utrecht
142
Zuid-Holland
105
Gelderland
72
Noord-Brabant
71
Overijssel
60
Groningen
53
Zeeland
46
Fryslân
39
Drenthe
33
Limburg
28
Change in number of establishments in the food and beverage business between 2007 and 2024, 1 January
Provincie
Establishments (% change)
Flevoland
197
Noord-Holland
144
Utrecht
142
Zuid-Holland
105
Gelderland
72
Noord-Brabant
71
Overijssel
60
Groningen
53
Zeeland
46
Fryslân
39
Drenthe
33
Limburg
28
Nearly half of all food and beverage establishments in the Netherlands
The majority of food and beverage establishments are located in Noord-Holland (25 percent), Zuid-Holland (21 percent) and Noord-Brabant (13 percent). These three provinces combined account for 59 percent of all food and beverage establishments in the Netherlands.
Share of provinces in establishments in the food and beverage business, 1 January 2024
Provincie
Share in establishments (%)
Noord-Holland
25
Zuid-Holland
21
Noord-Brabant
13
Gelderland
10
Utrecht
8
Limburg
6
Overijssel
5
Fryslân
3
Groningen
3
Zeeland
3
Flevoland
2
Drenthe
2
Share of provinces in establishments in the food and beverage business, 1 January 2024
Provincie
Share in establishments (%)
Noord-Holland
25
Zuid-Holland
21
Noord-Brabant
13
Gelderland
10
Utrecht
8
Limburg
6
Overijssel
5
Fryslân
3
Groningen
3
Zeeland
3
Flevoland
2
Drenthe
2
Highest number of food and beverage establishments per capita in Noord-Holland
Noord-Holland, with more than 600 food and beverage establishments per 100 thousand residents, remains the province with the highest number of establishments per capita. The relatively touristy provinces such as Zeeland (nearly 500 per 100 thousand residents) and Limburg (more than 400 per 100 thousand residents) ranked second and fourth, respectively.
