Business Survey Netherlands (COEN)
Every quarter year, the Conjunctuurenquête Nederland questions entrepreneurs on topics that concern them. Topics such as turnover developments, profitability, investments, and staff. Included are questions about experiences in the past quarter and expectations for the current quarter. The business confidence survey combines various of these topics to identify an overall sentiment. It is available for the whole of the Netherlands, all business sectors, regions, and company sizes.
Business survey - 1st quarter of 2026
Business confidence has been negative for the seventeenth consecutive quarter, standing at -1.8 in the first quarter of 2026. This represents an improvement on the previous quarter (-4.0). Business confidence is above the average (-3.7) for the series since 2012. Business confidence is most positive in the information and communication business sector. Confidence is most negative in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Business confidence rose from -4.0 to -1.8 in the first quarter of 2026. Business confidence is relatively highest in information and communication (9.2), sales and repair of motor vehicles (5.8), and retail trade (1.4). Entrepreneurs in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (20.6), accomodation and food serving (-12.0) and transportation and storage (-4.7) are relatively the most negative.
Business confidence rose from -4.0 to -1.8 in the first quarter of 2026. Business confidence is relatively highest in information and communication (9.2), sales and repair of motor vehicles (5.8), and retail trade (1.4). Entrepreneurs in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (20.6), accomodation and food serving (-12.0) and transportation and storage (-4.7) are relatively the most negative.
On balance, entrepreneurs are positive about sales prices/rates (35.7%), personnel (7.4%), purchase orders (5.2%), investments (5.1%) and turnover (1.9%) in the first quarter of 2026. On balance, entrepreneurs are pessimistic about the economic climate (-2.5%).
On balance, entrepreneurs are positive about sales prices/rates (35.7%), personnel (7.4%), purchase orders (5.2%), investments (5.1%) and turnover (1.9%) in the first quarter of 2026. On balance, entrepreneurs are pessimistic about the economic climate (-2.5%).
31.5% of entrepreneurs experience a labour shortage. Other obstacles include insufficient demand (19.7%), financial constraints (10.3%), weather conditions (9.4%), a shortage of production resources, materials and space (6.4%) or other reasons (12.6%). 34.7% of entrepreneurs do not experience any obstacles.
31.5% of entrepreneurs experience a labour shortage. Other obstacles include insufficient demand (19.7%), financial constraints (10.3%), weather conditions (9.4%), a shortage of production resources, materials and space (6.4%) or other reasons (12.6%). 34.7% of entrepreneurs do not experience any obstacles.
The various obstacles now add up to more than 100%. Entrepreneurs can give a maximum of 2 answers to the obstacle question, and previously the total percentage was normalised to 100%. This is no longer done, so that the percentage represents the share of entrepreneurs who selected this obstacle.
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