The Netherlands has 740 breweries, up from 75 in 2010
In 2025 the statistics office CBS saw a decline for the first time since 2010. The Chamber of Commerce (KVK) counted registrations at the start of 2026 on a different basis.
On 1 January 2010, according to CBS, the Netherlands had 75 breweries. On 1 January 2025 there were 740. Over those fifteen years it was mainly the number of small brewers that grew; according to CBS, most breweries in that period were one-person businesses.
Between the start of 2024 and the start of 2025 the CBS figure fell by forty. CBS called this the first annual decline since 2010. On 1 January 2024, North Brabant had the most brewery establishments, with 160.
The Chamber of Commerce reports 760 registered breweries for 1 January 2026. That is a different count at a different moment from the CBS business demography. The figures of 740 and 760 can therefore not be compared one to one as proof of renewed growth.
Not every registered brewer has its own kettles. The KVK explains that some entrepreneurs create recipes and rent another brewer’s equipment for brewing and bottling.
For the recent pressure on brewers, the KVK points to rising costs, higher excise duties and falling alcohol consumption. That is an explanation the KVK gives via De Ondernemer, not a separate causal analysis by CBS.
The counts do not say how many breweries can receive the public.