Innovation at Risk as Dutch Entrepreneurs Postpone Spending Amid Uncertainty
Work in NL | New Stardom
Photo by Alex vd Slikke
Explore the Workplace Series
Nearly three-quarters of Dutch entrepreneurs reported higher economic uncertainty over the past year. The main drivers: shifts in demand or market conditions, geopolitics, and domestic policy. A majority responded by changing how they operate, and a sizable share postponed or reduced investment, conditions that risk slowing innovation and digital upgrades across SMEs.
The CBS July 2025 survey, conducted with leading business and sector groups, finds that the pattern cuts across nearly every sector. Transport, wholesale, agriculture, and industry report the highest levels of uncertainty at close to 80 percent. In business services and car trade, the figure is still two out of three.
In response, many entrepreneurs are turning inward. Most focus on making their companies more flexible, adjusting staff, production, or internal processes to cope with rapid changes. For a significant share, the solution is to freeze or delay spending. Nearly one in five businesses experiencing uncertainty has postponed or reduced investment. This trend is especially acute in real estate, hospitality, and agriculture, where half or more have put new projects on hold.
For the Dutch economy, the pattern signals risk beyond the current moment. When investment is deferred, so is the adoption of new technology, digital systems, and sustainable upgrades. Economists warn that this collective pause could undermine innovation and productivity at a time when adaptation is essential for long-term competitiveness.
Not every sector is pulling back equally. Hospitality entrepreneurs cite inflation and interest rates as their main worry. In real estate and construction, domestic policy changes are the leading concern. Information and communication businesses more often report reorganising internally rather than cutting future spending.
The CBS survey covers companies with five or more employees. It is one of the first to capture the full extent of this year's economic uncertainty among Dutch entrepreneurs. While most remain adaptable, the pattern of postponed investment and heightened caution leaves open questions about how quickly the country can move forward on its digital and green ambitions.
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