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 2025
Business confidence has been negative for the 14th quarter in a row, standing at -7.5 in the second quarter of 2025. This marks the 2nd consecutive quarter in which the figure has gone down. In the 2nd quarter of 2025, business confidence is below the average (-3.7) for the series since 2012. Business confidence is positive only in the mining and quarrying industry, and information and communication. Confidence is most negative in ‘other service activities’, and the accommodation and food serving industry.
Business confidence declined from -5.4 to -7.5 in the 2nd quarter of 2025. Business confidence is relatively highest in mining and quarrying (1.4), information and communication (1.2), and renting, buying, selling real estate (-1.1). Entrepreneurs in other service activities (-15.1), the accommodation and food serving (-12.3) and wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) (-12.2) are relatively most negative.
Expectations
On balance, entrepreneurs are positive about turnover (22.6%), sales prices and rates (14.7%), purchase orders (12.9%), personnel (11.2%) and investments (1.8%). On balance, entrepreneurs are negative about the business climate (-3.6%).
Obstacles
33.9% of entrepreneurs experience a shortage of labour. Other obstacles include insufficient demand (18.8%), financial limitations (9.9%), a shortage of production, materials and space (8.2%), weather conditions (5.1%) and other reasons (10.5%). 36% 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. 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.