Dutch Economy Shows Modest Growth Amidst Recovery
Amsterdam, Thursday, 30 October 2025.
The Dutch economy grew by 0.4% in Q3 2025, driven by increased exports and government consumption, signaling a potential recovery trend following previous economic challenges.
Export and Government Consumption Drive Growth
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported a 0.4% growth in the Dutch economy for the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter. This growth was primarily driven by a substantial increase in exports and government consumption. Exports of goods and services rose by 0.8%, largely due to increased sales of petroleum products, plastics, metals, and machinery. Concurrently, government consumption increased by 1.1%, with significant spending on healthcare and salaries [1][2].
Sectoral Contributions and Economic Context
Several sectors, including trade, hospitality, transportation, storage, public administration, and healthcare, significantly contributed to the economic growth observed in the third quarter. Despite the positive growth, fixed capital investment saw a decline of 1.6%, as both the private sector and government reduced spending on transportation equipment. The economy’s performance in Q3 2025 marks an improvement over the previous quarters, which recorded growth rates of 0.3% each. This upward trend suggests a recovery from previous economic challenges [1][3].
Year-on-Year Economic Performance
When compared to the same period in 2024, the Dutch economy grew by 1.6% in Q3 2025. This year-on-year growth was supported by a 3.0% increase in government consumption and a 1.3% rise in household consumption, although investments slightly declined by 0.2%. Exports increased by 1.6%, outpacing the 1.7% rise in imports, which led to a marginal improvement in the trade balance. Overall, these figures highlight a resilient economic environment that could influence future investment opportunities and policy decisions [1][4].
Future Projections and Economic Outlook
The CBS’s first calculation for Q3 2025 was based on data available up to October 29, 2025, and anticipates a further revision by December 24, 2025. Historically, revisions between first and second calculations have averaged 0.1 percentage points. The consistent growth trajectory is a positive indicator as the Dutch economy approaches the end of the year. Economist Willem van der Waal noted that this consistent growth is a promising sign for the economy’s future prospects [2][3][5].