Dutch economy grows by 0.5 percent in Q4 2025

The release of data on Q4 means that the first annual growth figure for the whole of 2025 is now also available. Last year, the Netherlands’ GDP grew by 1.9 percent compared with 2024. This was mainly due to increased exports and public and household consumption.

Exports and public consumption are rising the fastest

In Q4 2025, exports of goods and services grew by 1.3 percent relative to Q3 2025. Exports of petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment increased, in particular. Exports of services decreased slightly. Imports of goods and services grew by 0.6 percent. As a result, the trade balance (exports minus imports) made the most positive contribution to growth in Q4 2025.

Public consumption grew by 1.1 percent, with the government spending more on healthcare and wages and salaries, in particular. Household consumption in Q4 increased by 0.3 percent compared with Q3, with consumers spending more on food in particular. Investment in fixed assets decreased by 0.5 percent. Investment in aircraft was down, in particular.

The public sector contributed the most to growth

In Q4 2025, value added (the difference between production and the consumption of energy, materials and services) grew the most in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector, at 2.5 percent. However, the added value of the public sector made the largest contribution to growth, mainly due to care and public administration. This was followed by manufacturing (and the machinery industry, in particular).

Dutch economy grew by 1.9 percent in 2025

Year on year, the GDP of the Netherlands grew by 1.8 percent in Q4 2025. The release of the data on the fourth quarter means that the first provisional growth figure for 2025 as a whole is available. GDP grew by 1.9 percent last year, which was more than in 2024, when the economy grew by 1.1 percent. Average growth over the past 30 years was approximately 2.0 percent per year.

Exports of goods and services grew by 2.6 percent. The increase in imports was slightly lower at 2.5 percent. As a result, the trade balance made a positive contribution to growth in 2025. Public consumption was 2.6 percent higher, while household consumption rose by 1.4 percent. Investments were 0.5 percent higher than in 2024. Of the various sectors, manufacturing, trade, care and public administration made the largest contribution to economic growth in 2025.

First estimate

The first estimate of GDP growth is published 30 days after the end of a quarter and is based on the information available at that moment. It provides an initial picture of the state of the Dutch economy. After the first estimate, new data is collected, which is used to make new calculations. The second estimate of economic growth in Q4 2024 will be released on Thursday 26 March.
On average, over the five-year period of 2020-2024, the difference between the final estimate and the first estimate was 0.1 percentage points in absolute terms, with the two extremes ranging between -0.4 and 0.7 percentage point, in 2024 and 2021 respectively.

With each new estimate, CBS also determines the new seasonally adjusted figures for previously published quarters. The growth figures for the first three quarters of 2025 remained unchanged.