Dutch investment in buildings, machinery, vehicles fell 2.6% in December

Spending on buildings, machinery, vehicles, and equipment in the Netherlands fell 2.6 percent in December 2025 compared with the same month a year earlier, the CBS reported.

The drop was mainly caused by lower spending on road transport equipment, including trucks, trailers, and vans, as well as airplanes. In contrast, investments in passenger cars, buildings, machinery—including defense equipment—and infrastructure increased compared with December 2024.

The figures are not adjusted for working days. December 2025 included one more working day than December 2024, which slightly affects year-on-year comparisons.

Monthly CBS data show that investment levels have fluctuated in recent years. After a 10.1 percent increase in December 2024, investment changes in 2025 varied widely, with significant declines in November (-4.8 percent) and December (-2.6 percent).

For February 2026, CBS reported that investment conditions were “less unfavorable” than in December. The improvement was reportedly due to higher industrial capacity utilization, stronger year-on-year growth in goods exports, and a less negative assessment of order positions.