Bankruptcies drop to lowest point in over 18 months, hospitality sector sees increase

In March 2025, the Netherlands saw a significant decline in the number of business bankruptcies, according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). A total of 271 companies were declared bankrupt, marking the lowest number in over a year and a half. This represents a 20 percent decrease compared to March 2024 and a 25 percent drop from February 2025. However, bankruptcies in the hospitality sector are on the rise.

The bankruptcy rate in March 2025 stood at 7.4 bankruptcies per 100,000 businesses, a decrease from the 9.5 rate recorded in March 2024. This marks a continued downward trend from March 2015, when the rate peaked at 24.8. Afterward, the rate gradually decreased, reaching a record low of 3.4 in August 2021. Though it increased again in 2024, it has since stabilized at a relatively low level.

Despite the overall decrease in bankruptcies, some sectors experienced more financial strain. The hospitality industry was particularly hard-hit, with the highest number of bankruptcies relative to its size. In March 2025, nearly 40 hospitality businesses per 100,000 declared bankruptcy, a sharp rise from the more than 28 reported a year earlier. The hospitality sector also saw the most significant increase in its bankruptcy rate compared to other industries. In contrast, most other sectors reported a lower bankruptcy rate than they had in March 2024.

For the first time, CBS focused its reporting on the bankruptcy rate, which measures the number of bankruptcies per 100,000 businesses. This metric provides a clearer view of the trend in bankruptcies across different sectors. It allows for better comparison between industries, which can fluctuate in size over time.