Car registrations in the Netherlands fell sharply in January 2026, with the indicator dropping to -13.1% year-over-year, according to data updated on 24 February 2026. The decline marks a notable reversal from December 2025, when car registrations had posted a robust 31.9% increase compared to the same month a year earlier.
The figures are based on a year-over-year comparison, where the January 2026 reading measures the change in registrations relative to January 2025, and the December 2025 figure reflects the change against December 2024. The swing from strong growth to a double-digit decline suggests a significant cooling in demand or a normalization following an unusually strong end to 2025.
Market observers will be watching upcoming monthly data to determine whether January’s drop represents a temporary correction after December’s surge or the start of a more sustained slowdown in the Dutch auto market.
