Nearly a quarter of firms delay or scrap investment plans
Property, hospitality and industry are particularly affected by obstacles to new investment.
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Nearly a quarter of Dutch companies have delayed or scrapped planned investments over the past twelve months. This is according to the October Netherlands Business Cycle Survey, conducted by CBS, KVK, EIB, MKB-Nederland and VNO-NCW.
According to the survey, 14.1 per cent of companies delayed investments. A further 2.5 per cent abandoned planned investments and 7.6 per cent did both. The figures cover companies outside the financial sector and utilities, and describe what business owners reported in the twelve months to October 2026.
The reluctance is not equally widespread. In property rental and trading, 36.5 per cent delayed investments and 3 per cent abandoned plans; 9 per cent did both. In hospitality, 23.7 per cent reported delays and 11.3 per cent both delays and scrapped plans. In industry, the respective shares were 18.6 and 11.5 per cent.
Show the figures
| Investments delayed | |
|---|---|
| Property | 36.5% |
| Hospitality | 23.7% |
| Industry | 18.6% |
| Transport and storage | 15.3% |
| Retail | 8.7% |
Almost half of business owners, 48 per cent, also say they face obstacles when investing. Financial constraints are cited by 17 per cent. A further 14 per cent point to uncertainty about future economic policy or regulation. In property, regulation, permits and infrastructure are most often cited as problems; agriculture and industry relatively often mention uncertainty about future policy.
The survey also shows that companies are not putting all investment on hold. Technology is the most important investment area for making companies fit for the future, according to the researchers. Ten per cent of companies had no investment plans at all over the past twelve months.
Business confidence remained at -5.3 at the start of the fourth quarter. That figure is a balance of positive and negative answers about economic conditions and is therefore not the percentage of companies that are pessimistic. Combined with delayed investment, it points to caution, but does not prove that investment is actually falling across all sectors.
Delays may also affect households and workers. Lower business investment can slow orders, innovation and productivity growth, while investment in technology may continue. The survey measures business owners' reported plans and obstacles; it does not say how many euros of investment will ultimately be lost or when delayed projects will be carried out after all.
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- Technology is the most important investment area for making companies fit for the future, according to the survey.
- 65.8 per cent of companies neither delayed investments nor abandoned them.
▼ Concerns
- 48 per cent of business owners face obstacles when investing; 17 per cent cite financial constraints.
- In property, hospitality and industry, reported rates of delay and cancellation are higher than average.
Critical note
The survey concerns reported investment plans and obstacles, not realised investment amounts. Business confidence of -5.3 is a balance indicator, not a direct measure of economic growth.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- They may delay projects because of financing problems, regulation or uncertainty about future policy.
- Workers
- Lower investment may curb orders and innovation, although technological investment may continue.
- Government
- Business owners cite policy certainty, permits and infrastructure as factors influencing investment decisions.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- CBS and its partner organisations surveyed business owners for the October 2026 Netherlands Business Cycle Survey.
- 24.2 per cent of companies reported delays, cancellations or both involving planned investments.
- Financial constraints and uncertainty about policy or regulation are commonly cited obstacles.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that investment in sustainability, innovation and staff should not depend on the financial capacity of individual companies, and that public investment can reduce uncertainty.
Values Collective responsibility, economic security and a strong public sector.
Consequences More government support or public investment could keep projects moving, but would require clear selection criteria and public funds.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises predictable policy, faster permits and targeted support where demonstrable financing or infrastructure problems are blocking investment.
Values Institutional reliability, practicality and a balance between market and government.
Consequences A more stable investment climate could limit delays without compensating for every business decision through subsidies.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that high costs, complex rules and unclear policy make business owners cautious, and that the government should primarily improve the conditions for investment.
Values Entrepreneurship, lower regulatory burdens and companies' own responsibility.
Consequences Fewer rules could speed up investment, but would not automatically reduce financial risks or uncertainty about demand.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core figures and breakdowns come directly from the CBS publication of 5 November 2026. The interpretation is limited to what the survey does and does not measure.
- confirmed Nearly a quarter of companies delayed investments or scrapped plans over the past twelve months. — CBS reports 14.1 per cent delaying, 2.5 per cent cancelling and 7.6 per cent doing both. source
- confirmed 48 per cent of business owners face obstacles when investing. — This is stated in the CBS publication on the October 2026 survey. source
- confirmed Business confidence stands at -5.3. — CBS gives this figure for the start of the fourth quarter of 2026. source
Editor's note
The figures come from the October 2026 Netherlands Business Cycle Survey. The survey measures companies' responses about delays, cancellations and obstacles; it does not measure the ultimate euro value of investments.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „investeringen ondernemers”
- Trouw — „investeringen ondernemers”
- RTL Nieuws — „investeringen ondernemers”