Entrepreneurs will rate their current business situation with an average score of 7.2 in 2025. This is lower than in 2024 (7.5) and back to the level of 2021 and 2022. Self-employed individuals, in particular, are driving this average down. They are significantly less positive than SMEs (7.2 versus 7.5). The main reasons cited by self-employed individuals are disappointing turnover, customer loss, and the impact of legislation and regulations, such as the DBA Act.
Overall, the agriculture and horticulture, healthcare, and business services sectors scored highest. Retail and cultural businesses received the lowest scores.
Stopping business
Nearly a quarter of entrepreneurs considered closing their businesses last year. Key reasons include regulatory pressure, rising costs, and a lack of job satisfaction. This underscores that closing is a hot topic within entrepreneurship.
Outlook for the next six months
Entrepreneurs give their expectations for the next six months an average grade of 7.3, lower than last year (7.5). Self-employed individuals are again less positive than SMEs (7.3 versus 7.5). More than one in ten self-employed individuals are pessimistic about the future and give a failing grade. They anticipate problems primarily with turnover, profitability, and legislation, with a large proportion of entrepreneurs anticipating challenges and bottlenecks. One self-employed individual expresses his concerns about the DBA Act: “I’m afraid the government won’t see me as an entrepreneur. I can’t gauge this myself; I find the rules so vague.”
More attention
Christiaan Hazelaar, a KVK advisor, explains: “Self-employed individuals are a vital driving force behind the Dutch economy, but their own businesses are under pressure. They experience more uncertainty about contracts and regulations than SMEs and are more likely to encounter problems finding new clients. This is even prompting some to consider closing down or transferring their businesses. These signals demonstrate that self-employed individuals deserve extra attention. As a KVK advisor, we support entrepreneurs by providing insight into their options and clarifying complex laws and regulations, so they can face the future stronger and with more confidence.”
Read the full study here: Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship in 2025
Source: Dutch Chamber of Commerce