Number of new companies rises sharply, over 8 out of 10 are self-employed

The number of new businesses in the Netherlands rose by over 15% in Q3 compared to last year, marking the strongest increase in years. Most of these new businesses are sole proprietorships, with over 80% being self-employed individuals. Despite ongoing discussions about false self-employment, this form of entrepreneurship remains vital to the economy. Meanwhile, fewer businesses ceased operations, with a 4.3% decrease in closures compared to last year, although bankruptcies saw a slight increase. As of October 1, there were over 2.6 million registered businesses, a 1.5% rise from the previous year. The political landscape has been grappling with self-employment regulations for a decade, with a new law set to take effect in 2028.