Dutch companies report higher profits, dividends, and investments in Q1 2025

Dutch non-financial companies reported a significant rise in gross profits before tax in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 90.1 billion euros—an increase of 4.7 billion euros compared to the same period last year, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The growth was driven mainly by a higher operational profit, which climbed by 3.9 billion euros to 71.6 billion euros. Profits from foreign subsidiaries also rose, contributing nearly 1 billion euros more than in early 2024. However, other profit components fell slightly by 0.1 billion euros.

Despite higher profits, the profit margin—the operational profit as a percentage of value added—slipped marginally to 43.1 percent from 43.2 percent in the first quarter of 2024. CBS states this is because the overall economic output grew just a bit faster than operational profits.

Non-financial companies paid 0.9 billion euros more in corporate taxes than in the first quarter of 2024. After taxes, these firms increased dividend payouts by 5.3 billion euros and boosted investments in fixed assets by 0.9 billion euros compared to the same period last year.