Business confidence in the Dutch manufacturing sector rose to 4.2 in September 2026 from 3.7 in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase and remaining at its highest level since July 2022. The improvement was driven by stronger expectations for business activity, which rose to 19.4 from 17.4, while assessments of order books also improved to -2.3 from -3.2. In contrast, inventory assessments deteriorated to -4.5 from -3.1. Across sectors, sentiment improved in food and beverages (1.8 vs 1.4), textile and clothing (-2.5 vs -4.0), wood and building materials (2.9 vs 1.6), and refineries and chemicals (1.1 vs 0.1). Sentiment also turned optimistic in base metals and metal products (3.0 vs -0.3), transport equipment (3.0 vs -0.7), and other industry and repair (1.5 vs -3.1). source: Statistics Netherlands

Business Confidence in Netherlands increased to 4.20 points in September from 3.70 points in August of 2026. Business Confidence in Netherlands averaged -1.72 points from 1985 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.50 points in October of 2021 and a record low of -31.50 points in April of 2020. This page provides - Netherlands Business Confidence - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Netherlands Business Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Business Confidence in Netherlands increased to 4.20 points in September from 3.70 points in August of 2026. Business Confidence in Netherlands is expected to be 1.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Netherlands Business Confidence is projected to trend around 1.00 points in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-28 04:30 AM
Business Confidence
Aug 3.7 2.4 2.8
2026-09-30 04:30 AM
Business Confidence
Sep 4.2 3.7 3.2
2026-11-02 05:30 AM
Business Confidence
Oct 4.2 3


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 409.00 317.00 Companies Sep 2026
Business Confidence 4.20 3.70 points Sep 2026
Capacity Utilization 78.20 78.60 percent Sep 2026
Changes in Inventories -589.00 -726.00 EUR Million Jun 2026
Industrial Production 9.70 8.60 percent Aug 2026
Industrial Production Mom 2.50 2.30 percent Aug 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 12.00 9.30 percent Aug 2026
Manufacturing Production MoM 3.30 2.10 percent Aug 2026
Mining Production -11.30 -1.40 percent Aug 2026


Netherlands Business Confidence
In Netherlands, the producer confidence survey covers 1,700 manufacturing companies and gathers up-to-date information on economic developments for all activities of the manufacturing industry. The survey covers three components: how companies evaluate their order positions, their stocks of finished products in the month under review and the anticipated economic activity for the next three months. The index is calculated as the percentage of positive answers minus the percentage of negative answers. Therefore, the indicator varies from -100 (all participants evaluate their situation as poor and expect it to become worse) to 100 (all companies are happy with current situation and expect it to improve); 0 indicates neutrality.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.20 3.70 10.50 -31.50 1985 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
Dutch Business Confidence Rises for Fourth Month
Business confidence in the Dutch manufacturing sector rose to 4.2 in September 2026 from 3.7 in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase and remaining at its highest level since July 2022. The improvement was driven by stronger expectations for business activity, which rose to 19.4 from 17.4, while assessments of order books also improved to -2.3 from -3.2. In contrast, inventory assessments deteriorated to -4.5 from -3.1. Across sectors, sentiment improved in food and beverages (1.8 vs 1.4), textile and clothing (-2.5 vs -4.0), wood and building materials (2.9 vs 1.6), and refineries and chemicals (1.1 vs 0.1). Sentiment also turned optimistic in base metals and metal products (3.0 vs -0.3), transport equipment (3.0 vs -0.7), and other industry and repair (1.5 vs -3.1).
2026-09-30
Dutch Business Confidence Strongest Since 2022
Business confidence in the Dutch manufacturing sector rose to 3.7 in August 2026 from 2.4 in July, reaching its strongest reading since July 2022. Sentiment improved as expectations for business activity strengthened to 17.4 from 13.5, while order book assessments improved to -3.2 from -3.8. Meanwhile, inventory assessments edged lower to -3.1 from -2.4, indicating slightly less favorable views of stock levels. Across sectors, sentiment improved notably in food and beverages (1.4 vs. -1.9), wood and building materials (1.6 vs. -3.4), and paper and graphic products (3.2 vs. 1.4). Confidence also strengthened in refining and chemicals (0.1 vs. -2.4) and remained broadly stable in electrical engineering and machinery (15.9 vs. 15.6), while sentiment deteriorated in transport equipment (-0.7 vs. 2.4) and other manufacturing and repair (-3.1 vs. 0.0).
2026-08-28
Dutch Manufacturing Confidence at 4-Year High
Business confidence in the Dutch manufacturing sector rose to 2.4 in July 2026, the highest level in four years, from 1.3 in the previous month. Sentiment improved as order book assessments rose to -3.8 from -7.0, while inventory assessments strengthened to -2.4 from -3.5 in June. Meanwhile, expectations for business activity became less optimistic, falling to 13.5 from 14.5, though they continued to signal a positive near-term production outlook. Across sectors, sentiment improved broadly, with gains recorded in wood and building materials (-3.4 vs. -6.5) and base metal and metal products (-3.0 vs. -3.3). Sentiment also turned positive in paper and graphic products (1.4 vs. -6.5) and strengthened further in electrical engineering and machinery (15.6 vs. 9.7).
2026-07-31