Entrepreneurs trust again: ‘For me as a simple entrepreneur, romance is rid of it’

« Where does it go and where is the end, » sighs Berrie de Kruif (54) from glass set-up company All-in Glass. His company supplies, places and processes glass and stained glass for private individuals and companies in the Netherlands. De Kruif takes place at one of the tables behind his showroom at the Utrecht’s business park De Cartesiusdriehoek. Wages and also the materials, « he says. In ten years the hourly wage in his sector went from 35 to 65 euros now, a much higher increase than inflation. In 2022, the average purchase price of an average window in a kitchen door also increased by 13 euros compared to a year earlier, as a result of increased energy prices. Gas is needed to heat the raw materials of glass in melting ovens and those costs have risen. « As an entrepreneur it is almost impossible to do, » says De Kruif.

Many Dutch entrepreneurs are worried as much as he: entrepreneurial confidence in the second quarter of 2025 fell further to a provisional low of -7.5, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reports a list of questions about the economy that was set for non -financial companies in April.

Confidence also declined compared to a year ago (-5.8). The sentiment is already negative for fourteen quarters in a row. As a main reason, Statistics Netherlands gives a shortage of workers, but the American import duties also cause an uncertain economic climate.

Minor benefits

De Kruif also notices that Trumps policy contributes to gloomy prospects. He buys glass from Dutch companies that in turn import it from Germany. He also has stained glass edited in Macedonia. « From the Macedonian customs, we can only enter glass if it comes from Europe: American and Chinese products are banned. And the basic purchase price of German glass has been increased by 7 percent by import duties since this month, » said De Kruif.

But international developments can also offer small benefits. Due to a surplus of glass from Germany, because there is now less German glass to America, its delivery time has been reduced from three to one week. De Kruif also hopes that Chinese vacuum glass will become cheaper now that China is exporting less to the US. « But that can change again. »

However, the biggest problems that entrepreneurs suffer from have nothing to do with Trump. Entrepreneurs still call the shortage of workers the most important obstacle for their business operations, although the number of companies that suffer from this has fallen slightly. For example, the CBS reports that the share of companies with a staff shortage decreased, from 38.4 percent at the start of the second quarter last year to 33.9 percent at the start of the second quarter this year. Almost half of the companies experience a staff shortage in the transport and storage industry, according to the survey.

For Jeffrey Poshouwer (52), owner of Autoschade Recovery PosHouwer in Utrecht, staff shortage is a known problem. From the showroom of De Kruif you can see how busy it is at the car damage repair company, across the street. « It’s busy in the car damage world. Good professionals are scarce and expensive. The costs are rising, but our rates are not increasing in proportion, » says Poshouwer.

Entrepreneurial confidence has been negative for fourteen quarters, according to the CBS

Poshouwer believes that there is not enough attention for entrepreneurs in the cabinet. He calls it continuing for two years of long -term sick employees, « where this is three months in Belgium. » To contribute to a sustainable world and because it is expected from The Hague, he invests in tools and further training to also be able to recover electric cars. But uncertainty about subsidy schemes to make MKB entrepreneurs companies more energy efficient, Poshouwer gives the feeling that he is being opposed. Poshouwer: « And on top of that, the announced sharpened enforcement for self -employed people and the slowly increasing retirement age are added. »

« I am proud of our SME family company. We will continue, because giving up is not in my nature. But for a simple entrepreneur like me, romance is finished in this way. »

Despite all the uncertainty, according to the CBS, entrepreneurs expect a slight growth in turnover and the number of orders in the second quarter. Exporting companies in particular remain positive about their foreign sales, mainly in wholesalers and industry. Entrepreneurs in construction and industry, on the other hand, remain cautious with investments. For example, the international competitive position is rated less positively than before.

Although the decrease in entrepreneurial confidence in the culture, sports and recreation sectors is almost twice as large -it went from -2.8 to -5.5 this year from -2.8 last year -sports school owner Jacob van Leaves (37) of Roots Premium Gym, which is a stone’s throw from the PosHouwer’s garage, less delivered than others in his sector. « Sports is something people add, so we notice it immediately if people have less to spend, » says Van Leaves. But that is no reason for him to change his business. « We are one community With a close clientele. I no longer want to invest in American gym materials. ”

In economically uncertain times, a flexible entrepreneurial mentality is of great importance, emphasizes of leaves, while the speakers of the ‘Superstition’ gym sounds of Stevie Wonder. « I believe you have to create opportunities and they have to grab when they come your way. As an entrepreneur I am always busy with innovation, but I always take unexpected twists into account. »

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