Women’s representation on Dutch company boards continues to rise

The representation of women on the boards of large Dutch companies continued to rise. Women accounted for an average of 17.3 percent by the end of 2024, up 2 percentage points from the previous year, according to the Social and Economic Council (SER). Growth in female representation on supervisory boards, however, has plateaued.

The advisory council reports that more than 4,000 companies provided data on gender distribution in top and mid-level management for 2024. SER chair Kim Putters said, "Even in challenging times when gender balance and diversity and inclusion are under pressure globally, the higher response rate demonstrates that Dutch organizations continue to commit to gender diversity and inclusive workplaces."

He added that a work environment offering equal opportunities for all is "crucial for sustainable business and fostering broad prosperity in the Netherlands."

Since January 1, 2022, a law in the Netherlands has aimed to ensure a more balanced ratio of men and women in senior and mid-level management of large companies. It requires that the supervisory boards of publicly traded firms be made up of at least one-third men and one-third women.

The SER reports that, by the end of 2024, women made up an average of 26.1 percent of supervisory boards, compared with 26.2 percent in 2022 and 25.7 percent in 2023. The advisory council notes that companies reporting on this since 2023 generally have a lower proportion of women on their supervisory boards than those that have been reporting for a longer period.

The share of companies with no women on their executive or supervisory boards keeps falling. According to the SER, 56 percent of executive boards and 30.5 percent of supervisory boards in large companies remain all-male. The council emphasizes that it is crucial for more companies to advance their strategies for achieving a more balanced male-female ratio.

The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) found on Wednesday that the diversity quota for supervisory boards is working. Two years after its implementation, 92 percent of around one hundred publicly traded companies comply with the rule. According to the CPB, "The quota has resulted in a notably more balanced gender ratio and has coincided with the appointment of equally well-qualified board members."