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 - 2nd quarter of 2026
Business confidence has been negative for the eighteenth consecutive quarter, standing at -14.8 in the second quarter of 2026. This represents a deterioration compared with the previous quarter (-1.8). Business confidence is below the average for the series since 2012. Business confidence is negative across all business sectors. Entrepreneurs in the information and communication sector are the least negative. Confidence is most negative in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Business confidence has been negative for the 18th consecutive quarter, standing at -14.8 in the second quarter of 2026. This represents a further deterioration compared with the previous quarter (-1.8). Business confidence is below the average for the series since 2012. Business confidence is negative across all business sectors. Entrepreneurs in the information and communication sector are the least negative. Confidence is most negative in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Business confidence has been negative for the 18th consecutive quarter, standing at -14.8 in the second quarter of 2026. This represents a further deterioration compared with the previous quarter (-1.8). Business confidence is below the average for the series since 2012.
Business confidence is negative across all business sectors. Entrepreneurs in the information and communication sector are the least negative. Confidence is most negative in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
On balance, business owners are optimistic about sales prices/rates (26.1%), turnover (21.8%), personnel (10.9%), purchase orders (10.8%) and investment (1.8%) in the second quarter of 2026. On balance, business owners are pessimistic about the economic climate (-10.0%).
On balance, business owners are optimistic about sales prices/rates (26.1%), turnover (21.8%), personnel (10.9%), purchase orders (10.8%) and investment (1.8%) in the second quarter of 2026. On balance, business owners are pessimistic about the economic climate (-10.0%).
30.1% of business owners are experiencing a labour shortage. Also insufficient demand (19.6%), financial limitations (10.9%), a shortage of production, materials and space (7.8%), weather conditions (7.0%), or other reasons (17.4%) are obstacles. 32.3% of entrepreneurs face no obstacles.
30.1% of business owners are experiencing a labour shortage. Also insufficient demand (19.6%), financial limitations (10.9%), a shortage of production, materials and space (7.8%), weather conditions (7.0%), or other reasons (17.4%) are obstacles. 32.3% of entrepreneurs face no 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.
View the full report
View the report containing a detailed description of the results (in Dutch).