Consumer confidence in the Netherlands stood at -37 in May 2025, the same level as in April, new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has found.
‘Opinions about the economic climate remained the same, while willingness to buy slightly deteriorated,’ the statistics body said.
This indicates a persistently negative sentiment among Dutch consumers, with the consumer confidence level considerably below the long-term average of -10 recorded over the past 20 years.
Downward trend
The current score maintains a downward trend that commenced last autumn, following a brief post-pandemic recovery. The record low consumer confidence level was -59, which was reached in September and October 2022, while the all-time high of 36 was recorded in January 2000.
Looking at the different sub-indicators that combine to create the consumer confidence index, assessments of the economic climate showed no change in May, standing at -61, Statistics Netherlands noted.
Economic outlook
Consumers are marginally less negative about the economic outlook for the next 12 months, however their opinion over the past 12 months has remained unchanged.
Elsewhere, willingness to buy among consumers declined slightly in May, falling to -21, down one point from April. Consumer perceptions about their own personal financial situation over both the previous and next 12 months was marginally more negative.
In addition, consumers were less confident about making large purchases or buying consumer durables, with this indicator dropping from -34 to -36.
Statistics Netherlands has been measuring consumer confidence levels in the country since 1986. Consumer confidence is assessed using five questions, where the balance of positive and negative responses is taken from each question. If all consumers are positive, the balance is 100. If all consumers are negative, the balance is -100. Read more here.
