Hospitality revenue grows

Revenue across restaurants and cafés increased by approximately 5% during the first three quarters of 2025, according to figures from ABN AMRO. Growth in day tourism provided an additional boost to the sector.

According to the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB), purchasing power is expected to rise by 1.4% in 2026. As a result, the bank expects consumers to spend more on hospitality in the year ahead. For entrepreneurs, this offers some relief. Collective labour costs in hospitality are expected to rise less sharply than the national average in 2026, while pressure on the labour market is easing slightly, although staff shortages remain a challenge.

Bankruptcies stabilising

Earlier, ABN AMRO warned that the number of bankruptcies in hospitality could continue to rise, but that trend has not yet materialised. In October and November, the number of bankruptcies among food-service businesses declined relatively sharply. Among bars and drink establishments, bankruptcies have already been gradually decreasing for a longer period.

Financial pressure remains high

Despite the slightly improved outlook, financial pressure remains significant for many hospitality businesses. Around a quarter of smaller entrepreneurs report problematic debt levels. Across the sector as a whole, that figure stands at approximately 20%. In November 2023, it was just over 12%.

The financial strain is also reflected in the number of hospitality businesses closing down. During the first three quarters of 2025, the number of business closures reached its highest level in ten years. Restaurants were particularly affected, although the increase slowed somewhat later in the year. Among bars and drink establishments, the number of closures declined slightly.

Source: NU.nl, editorially adapted