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 - 3rd quarter of 2025
Business confidence is negative for the fifteenth consecutive quarter, standing at -3.8 in the 3rd quarter of 2025. This represents a slight increase compared to the previous quarter (-7.5). Business confidence is virtually unchanged from the average (-3.7) for the series since 2012. Only in the information and communication business sector is business confidence positive. Confidence is most negative in agriculture, forestry, and fishing and in accommodation and food serving.
Business confidence rose to -3.8 in the second quarter of 2025.
Business confidence rose from -7.5 to -3.8 in the 3rd quarter of 2025. Business confidence is relatively highest in information and communication (3.5), business services (0.6) and transport and storage (-0.9). Entrepreneurs in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (-16.3), accommodation and food serving (-13.2), and sale and repair of motor vehicles (-5.2) are relatively the most negative.
On balance, 11.0% of entrepreneurs are positive about sales prices/rates.
On balance, entrepreneurs are positive about sales prices and rates (11.0%), personnel (7.5%) and investments (0.6%). On balance, entrepreneurs are negative about the business climate (-2.2%).
33.3% of entrepreneurs do not experience any obstacles.
36.3% of entrepreneurs experience a shortage of labour. Other obstacles include insufficient demand (19.8%), financial constraints (10.4%), a shortage of production, materials and space (6.4%), weather conditions (6.1%) and other reasons (11.7%). 33.3% 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 question about obstacles, and previously the total percentage was normalised to 100%. This is no longer done, so that the percentage now represents the share of entrepreneurs who selected this obstacle.
Providing your data to CBS
You can submit your data for COEN via My CBS (in Dutch). My CBS is a new, clear portal for businesses and organisations. In My CBS, you can view your surveys, submit the requested data and easily change your contact details. My CBS also contains information about your business sector.