Investment in July virtually the same as a year earlier

In July, the volume of investment in tangible fixed assets was up by 0.1 percent, year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Investments in machinery (including defence equipment), in particular, were higher. However, investments in aircraft, buildings, infrastructure, and passenger cars were lower than a year earlier. In June 2026, investment was up by 2.8 percent.

These figures on investment have not been adjusted for calendar effects. July 2026 had the same number of working days as July 2025. In August, conditions for investment in the Netherlands were more unfavourable than they were in July.

Investment climate more unfavourable in August

Every month, CBS publishes an update on the investment climate in its visualisation of investment conditions. Factors that are relevant to the investment climate include the situation in sales markets and the financial markets. Although the indicators in the visualisation correlate fairly well with fixed investment, improved conditions do not necessarily result in higher growth or a smaller contraction in investment.

In August, the investment climate in the Netherlands was more unfavourable than it was in July. This is because the year-on-year increase in goods exports was smaller, in particular.