Bankruptcies down by 12 percent in April, year on year

fell by 12% year on year in April, meaning noticeably fewer businesses were declared bankrupt than in April a year earlier, but the broader trend is only slightly downward rather than collapsing.

What the 12% drop means

A 12% year‑on‑year decline indicates that, compared with April of the previous year, 12% fewer businesses were declared bankrupt. In the Dutch data this refers to court‑declared bankruptcies of businesses (including sole proprietorships), not all closures or restructurings.

Scale in absolute numbers

In April 2026, Dutch business bankruptcies fell to 293 cases, down 12% from April 2025. On a month‑to‑month basis, April was also about 3% lower than March, so the decline is visible both year on year and sequentially.

Bankruptcy rate and longer trend

The bankruptcy rate (bankruptcies per 100 thousand businesses) also declined with this move, signalling a modest easing in business financial distress. According to Statistics Netherlands, after rising through 2024 the bankruptcy rate has recently stabilized and since autumn 2024 has begun to edge slightly downward.

Sector and cyclical context

The recent drop comes after a period in which bankruptcies had been trending up from the exceptionally low levels seen during and immediately after the pandemic, as support measures unwound and rates rose. Even with the recent 12% decline in April, broader European and global data still show elevated bankruptcies compared with pre‑pandemic lows, reflecting tighter financial conditions and sector‑specific pressures like commercial real estate.