Number of SMEs in the Netherlands 2008-2023, by size
SMEs play an important part in the Dutch economy
Dutch SMEs were responsible for an added value of roughly 240.1 billion euros in 2018, a higher amount than in Belgium and Luxembourg. The companies also employed more people that other business segments, as SMEs in the Netherlands accounted for roughly 3.8 million employees.
Most SMEs to be found in retail
According to survey results from April 2018, the most common SME sectors in the Netherlands consisted of retail or wholesale, media, arts and personal services. In the most recent quarter, however, bankruptcies in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry (often referred to as horeca in the Netherlands), saw an increase. As of the third quarter of 2019, there were approximately 60 bankruptcies in this industry.