Despite the growing drive toward entrepreneurship, the 2024 figures reveal a striking departure from the trend: for the first time in ten years, the number of newly founded companies has declined. According to data from the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK), 253,823 new businesses were registered—a decrease of 8% compared to 2023. In contrast, the number of closures rose by 11%, from 147,482 in 2023 to 163,878 in 2024.
Key figures and trends
On January 1, 2025, a total of 2,581,399 companies were listed in the Trade Register, a 3% increase over the previous year. However, this growth is smaller than the 5% increase recorded a year earlier. The drop in new startups is visible across all sectors, but is most pronounced in healthcare and construction—sectors which also saw the largest rise in closures.
“We’re seeing a shift in the Dutch entrepreneurial landscape. The number of new businesses founded by entrepreneurs born in the Netherlands has fallen by 12%, whereas the decline among entrepreneurs born abroad was limited to 3%. Today, 30% of new founders in the Netherlands are foreign-born.”
Erik Stam, Professor of Strategy, Organization, and Entrepreneurship at Utrecht University
Developments among self employed professionals
The number of self employed without staff (zzp’ers) grew from 1,710,161 in 2023 to 1,772,367 in 2024, an increase of 4%. However, this represents a slowdown in growth compared to the 7% rise in 2023. New zzp registrations dropped by 9%, mirroring the overall decline in new business starts, while the number of zzp closures surged by 20%.
“Despite uncertainty around tax regulations and bogus self‑employment, the drive to start a business remains strong. The desire for autonomy over one’s work continues to outweigh the challenges of the current business climate.”
Cristel van de Ven, Chair of the Dutch Association of the Self Employed (Vereniging Zelfstandigen Nederland)
Key figures and trends
On January 1, 2025, a total of 2,581,399 companies were listed in the Trade Register, a 3% increase over the previous year. However, this growth is smaller than the 5% increase recorded a year earlier. The drop in new startups is visible across all sectors, but is most pronounced in healthcare and construction—sectors which also saw the largest rise in closures.
“The anticipated wave of post‑COVID bankruptcies is continuing, but remains contained,” says Erik Stam. “Bankruptcy levels are still far below those seen before 2017.”
The dynamics of business formation and closures in the Netherlands clearly show a shift. Despite challenges such as regulatory burdens and economic uncertainty, the appetite for entrepreneurship remains strong. The coming years will be crucial for interpreting this turning point and developing appropriate measures to strengthen the entrepreneurial climate.
