Dutch business climate receives moderate satisfaction score

Entrepreneurs in the Netherlands have rated the country’s business environment with a score of six this year. Despite this, the Netherlands remains a leader in innovation and competitiveness globally, according to a business climate report commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Various studies indicate that business satisfaction has been declining for years. A report by PwC released this summer showed the rating has been dropping since 2018, prompting some companies to consider relocation.

The previous government commissioned SEO Economic Research to assess business satisfaction for the first time, and the business climate was rated nearly a seven in 2022, dropping to just above six this year. Entrepreneurs rated the country based on fourteen criteria, including infrastructure, talent availability, and financing options.

Large companies like ASML and Booking.com, as well as startups, have expressed concerns, with many looking abroad for better financing opportunities, particularly in the U.S. One-third of surveyed entrepreneurs rated the Dutch business environment poorly, citing labor market tightness, regulatory pressure, and government unpredictability as major issues. Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs is attending a business summit in Eindhoven, where he aims to gather insights on improving the business climate in the coming years.

Source: NOS

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