Bankruptcies up by over 30 percent in 2024

These are the most recent figures on this topic. View the previous figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that, adjusted for the number of court session days, there were 27 fewer bankruptcies in December 2024 than in the previous month; a decrease of 8 percent. Now that the December figure is known, the provisional total for the whole year can be calculated: 4,270 businesses and institutions were declared bankrupt in 2024, over 30 percent more than in 2023.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearWeekNumber of bankruptcies
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
2024March333
2024April354
2024May336
2024June373
2024July398
2024August325
2024September363
2024October321
2024November345
2024December318

Number of bankruptcies did not increase further during 2024

The number of corporate bankruptcies (adjusted for court session days) fluctuates substantially, with rapid ups and downs. The number peaked in May 2013 (911). After that, a decline started and a record low was reached in August 2021, at 109 bankruptcies. The number of bankruptcies then gradually increased again until 2024. The number of bankruptcies did not increase further during 2024. In December 2024, the number of bankruptcies was lower than in the same month a year earlier. This is the first time that this has been the case since May 2022.

4,270 companies declared bankrupt in 2024

Over 2024 as a whole, a total of 4,270 businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt. This was 30.5 percent more than in 2023, when the number was 3,272. The number of bankruptcies in 2024 was the highest in 8 years. The peak of 9,431 bankruptcies was reached in 2013 during the euro crisis. In 2021, bankruptcies reached their lowest level (1,818) since the start of the survey in 1981.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships)
 Number
20107147
20116883
20128346
20139431
20147621
20156006
20165012
20173867
20183633
20193792
20203177
20211818
20222145
20233272
20244270

Sharpest increase recorded in specialised business services

In 2024, just as in the previous years, most bankruptcies occurred in the trade sector (811). This was followed by the construction sector and the specialised business services sector, with 618 and 509 bankruptcies respectively. These sectors are also the largest in terms of number of businesses.

The number of bankruptcies increased year on year in virtually all sectors. In absolute terms, the specialised business services sector recorded the sharpest year-on-year increase: a rise of 157. The number of bankruptcies was higher than a year earlier, especially in activities of head offices, management consultancy activities, architectural and engineering activities. With an increase of 139 bankruptcies, construction came in second. The increase is mainly attributable to specialised construction (including construction installation and finishing companies). In trade, the increase was 129. This mainly concerned wholesale companies.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
 20242023
Trade811682
Construction618479
Specialised business services509352
Financial services381306
Accommodation and food services377267
Manufacturing351270
Transportation and storage301237
Renting and other business services261170
Information and communication167123
Care158104
Other service activities7573
Real estate activities7166
Arts, sports and recreation7059
Education4245
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries2621