Dutch entrepreneur confidence rises to -5.3 but stays negative amid geopolitical uncertainty

The Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) reported that the Dutch entrepreneur confidence index improved to -5.3 in the start of the third quarter, up from -14.8 a quarter earlier – the biggest rise since July 2021. The figure remains below the long‑term average of -3.8. Confidence increased in almost all sectors, with the largest gains in construction (from -29.4 to -12.8) and agriculture, while industry reached its highest level since early 2022. Only the motor‑trade and repair sector saw a slight decline.

Around 78 % of entrepreneurs said they faced heightened economic uncertainty over the past year. Forty‑two percent pointed to geopolitical developments such as wars and trade tensions as the main driver, with additional concerns about demand shifts, staff and supplier availability, and domestic policy. Many firms are building buffers to cope with the ongoing uncertainty.