Consumer confidence in the Netherlands rose to -35 in July 2026 from -39 in June, extending its recovery but still standing well below the long-term average of -11 over the past 20 years. The upturn was largely driven by a less negative assessment of the economic climate, which improved to -59 from -64, as consumers grew more optimistic about both the economic situation over the past 12 months and the outlook for the year ahead.
Willingness to buy also strengthened, climbing to -19 from -22. This was supported by more favorable views of household finances and a better assessment of the timing for major purchases. The evaluation of households’ financial situation over the past year ticked up to -15 from -16, while expectations for the next 12 months improved more markedly, to -2 from -6. In addition, the perception of whether it is a good time for large purchases improved to -40 from -44.
Despite these gains, consumer confidence remains below its long-term average and far from the record high of +36 recorded in January 2000.
