Fewer bankruptcies in January

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that, adjusted for the number of court session days, there were 26 fewer bankruptcies in February than January. This is a decrease of 7 percent. However, there has been an upward trend in the number of bankruptcies for nearly two years. In the first two months of 2024, over 40 percent more businesses were declared bankrupt than in the same period one year previously.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearWeekNumber of bankruptcies
2020March280
2020April382
2020May406
2020June257
2020July227
2020August195
2020September212
2020October190
2020November210
2020December174
2021January172
2021February143
2021March165
2021April193
2021May163
2021June139
2021July125
2021August109
2021September141
2021October126
2021November183
2021December159
2022January139
2022February182
2022March166
2022April119
2022May189
2022June164
2022July148
2022August148
2022September174
2022October219
2022November228
2022December269
2023January225
2023February274
2023March210
2023April236
2023May252
2023June298
2023July254
2023August265
2023September293
2023October285
2023November295
2023December385
2024January366
2024February340

Number of bankruptcies rising

The number of corporate bankruptcies (adjusted for court session days) fluctuates significantly. The number peaked in May 2013 (at 911). It subsequently continued to decline until August 2017, after which it remained fairly stable until mid-2020. It then declined once again, reaching a record low of 109 in August 2021. Since May 2022, the number of bankruptcies has been consistently higher than one year previously.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade sector

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, a total of 320 businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt in February. The trade sector had the highest number of bankruptcies, at 65. That was 19 percent fewer than in January.

Trade is among the sectors with the largest number of businesses. In relative terms, the largest number of bankruptcies in February were declared in the accommodation and food services sector.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
SectorFebruary 2024January 2024
Trade6580
Construction5468
Financial services3438
Accommodation and food services3141
Specialised business services3046
Manufacturing2932
Renting and other business services1819
Transportation and storage1630
Information and communication1412
Care1011
Real estate activities58
Other service activities57
Arts, sports and recreation46
Education17
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries09