Netherlands saw 1.9 percent economic growth in 2025, incl. 0.5 percent in Q4

The Dutch economy recorded growth of 1.9 percent in the country’s gross domestic product over the whole of 2025, the national data office Statistics Netherlands (CBS) said on Friday. The final annual figure was helped by figures from the last three months of the year, when GDP growth was 0.5 percent compared to the third quarter.

The annual estimated growth of 1.9 percent was much stronger than in 2024, when GDP rose by 1.1 percent, but remained slightly below the average of 2.0 percent annual growth over the past 30 years. “Of the various sectors, manufacturing, trade, care, and public administration made the largest contribution to economic growth in 2025,” the CBS stated.

This year’s increase was marked by a 2.6 percent increase in exports of goods and services, and also a 2.6 percent boost in public consumption. Household consumption was also up about 1.4 percent year to year.

The CBS also noted that imports showed an increase of 2.5 percent, just below the pace set by exports. “As a result, the trade balance made a positive contribution to growth in 2025,” the CBS said. Investments also rose by 0.5 percent.

In the fourth quarter, exports and government consumption were the driving forces behind the economic growth. The exports of goods and services rose by 1.3 percent, compared to the previous quarter. Imports of goods and services rose less sharply, by 0.6 percent. So the trade balance of exports minus imports made a strong positive contribution to the economic growth.

Government consumption increased by 1.1 percent. The governments spent more on healthcare and wages, among other things. Household consumption also increased by 0.3 percent compared to the third quarter. Households spent more on food. Investments in fixed assets decreased slightly, by 0.1 percent.

In quarter four, the value added grew most in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector at 2.5 percent. “Value added” is the difference between production and the consumption of energy, materials, and services. The public sector saw a smaller increase in value added, at 0.6 percent, but still made the largest contribution to economic growth.