Dutch new business registrations rise by more than 15% in third quarter

More than 62,000 new business establishments were registered in the Netherlands in the third quarter, up by more than 15% on the same period last year, according to the Chamber of Commerce (KVK). It was the strongest increase in years, the KVK said.

Sole proprietorships drove much of the rise: registrations in that category were up 20%. More than eight in 10 new businesses were started by self-employed people without staff. New limited companies rose by 3.2%.

Joris Knoben, professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at Tilburg University, said demand for flexibility in the labour market remained strong. People moved between salaried work, self-employment and other flexible forms of work during their careers, he said. In construction in particular, businesses often combine employees and self-employed workers.

Professional services, including consultancies and accountancy firms, accounted for the largest share of new businesses, at 17%. Trade and construction followed.

Closures fell at the same time: more than 36,000 business establishments were wound up, 4.3% fewer than a year earlier. Bankruptcies rose slightly, by less than 1%.

At the start of October, more than 2.6 million businesses were registered with the KVK, slightly more than a year earlier.