Nearly half of Dutch businesses affected by Middle East war, survey finds

Nearly half of Dutch businesses report that the war in the Middle East and resulting geopolitical tensions have affected their operations, while almost as many say they have not been impacted, according to a new survey.

The Kamer van Koophandel (KVK) poll of 530 entrepreneurs found the effects are almost equally divided, with most businesses overall acknowledging some level of influence from the conflict.

Just over half of respondents said they had experienced the effects of the war, most commonly through higher fuel, purchasing, and transportation costs. Wholesalers and logistics companies reported the greatest disruption, likely due to their reliance on international trade.

Nearly half of respondents, meanwhile, said international developments had little or no influence on their business overall. Some in that group reported higher fuel costs but said the increases had little or no practical effect on their operations.

Entrepreneurs also reported growing uncertainty. One-third said they are uncertain about future revenue, while one-quarter are dealing with lower or fluctuating demand. Respondents said they have noticed other businesses cutting spending and delaying expenditures.

According to KVK, bigger small and medium-sized businesses are experiencing greater and more widespread effects from the war and geopolitical tensions than smaller companies.