One fifth fewer bankruptcies in March year-on-year

As of March 2025, the focus of the news release on bankruptcies will be on the changes compared to a year earlier and on the bankruptcy rate. This is the number of declared bankruptcies per 100 thousand businesses. The bankruptcy rate provides a clearer picture of the change in the number of bankruptcies in the Netherlands. It also allows for better comparison between sectors. The number of businesses can fluctuate over time and differ greatly between sectors.

Bankruptcy rate also lower

The bankruptcy rate, the number of bankruptcies per 100 thousand businesses, was 7.4 in March. A year earlier, 9.5 per 100 thousand businesses were declared bankrupt. Since the start of the series in 2015, the bankruptcy rate peaked in March 2015 at 24.8. After that, a decline started and in August 2021 a record low was reached at 3.4. The number of bankruptcies per 100 thousand businesses increased again until 2024. Since then, the bankruptcy rate has stabilised at a low level, in relative terms.

Most bankruptcies recorded in the accommodation and food services sector

In relative terms, the most bankruptcies in March were declared in the in the accommodation and food services sector, not adjusted for court days. Nearly 40 out of every 100 thousand businesses in this sector went bankrupt. A year earlier, that was more than 28. The accommodation and food services sector also recorded the largest increase in the bankruptcy rate. In most other sectors, the bankruptcy rate was lower than a year earlier.