Dutch economy grows 0.6% in third quarter

The Dutch economy grew 0.6% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the second, according to CBS's first calculation. Growth in the second quarter was 0.7%. The positive trade balance and the build-up of inventories contributed most.

CBS counted 408 thousand unemployed people in September, and the number has risen by an average of 5 thousand a month over the past three months. The unemployment rate was 4.0%, the same as in August. At the end of the third quarter 375 thousand vacancies were open, almost the same as a quarter earlier.

In the October Conjunctuurklok, the economic picture was almost as negative as in September. Consumers were slightly more negative; their confidence remained far below the average of the past twenty years. Producers were less positive, though their confidence stayed above that average.

The economic picture has improved since mid-2025 but is still below trend

Deviation from long-term trend (0) · Jan 2025–Oct 2026

The economic picture has improved since mid-2025 but is still below trend (deviation from long-term trend (0)). From -0.3 in Jan 2025 to -0.17 in Oct 2026; highest -0.16 in Sep 2026, lowest -0.44 in Jul 2025. Source: CBS.

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Data: The economic picture has improved since mid-2025 but is still below trend

Item	Deviation from long-term trend (0)
Jan 2025	-0.3
Feb 2025	-0.3
Mar 2025	-0.32
Apr 2025	-0.37
May 2025	-0.39
Jun 2025	-0.41
Jul 2025	-0.44
Aug 2025	-0.43
Sep 2025	-0.42
Oct 2025	-0.43
Nov 2025	-0.41
Dec 2025	-0.39
Jan 2026	-0.4
Feb 2026	-0.37
Mar 2026	-0.33
Apr 2026	-0.33
May 2026	-0.28
Jun 2026	-0.23
Jul 2026	-0.22
Aug 2026	-0.19
Sep 2026	-0.16
Oct 2026	-0.17

Industrial production in August was 12.0% higher than a year earlier, the largest rise in more than four years, and 3.3% higher than in July. Goods exports were 4.9% up, mainly machinery and means of transport. Household consumption rose 2.1%, mostly goods. Investment in tangible fixed assets was 1.8% higher, led by machinery (including defence equipment), computers and buildings.

Prices of existing homes in September were 2.9% higher than a year earlier, against 3.3% in August. Year-on-year price growth has been slowing almost without interruption since November 2024. Prices fell 0.4% compared with August.

Bankruptcies rose 5% in September: 16 more companies, including sole proprietorships, were declared bankrupt than in August, adjusted for the number of court sitting days. Employees and self-employed people worked just over 3.7 billion hours in the third quarter, 0.3% more than in the previous quarter.