Research by Nextens tax software among entrepreneurs with staff and financial managers shows that the business community is not burdened by international and national political concerns. Almost half of all respondents in the profit sector expect revenue to increase in 2026. The most positive are the business services with 52%, transport & logistics with 51%, financial services with 48%, ICT with 47%, construction with 47%, and hospitality with 44%. The expectation that their profit will also rise is slightly lower in most sectors.
Within the not-for-profit sector, such as healthcare, culture, education, and public administration, generally lower expectations are expressed regarding revenue growth and profit growth. Among the respondents, voters who voted for the VVD on October 29, 2025, are the most optimistic about revenue growth for their organization at 55%, followed by those who voted for JA21 at 54%. Respondents who voted for GroenLinks-PvdA are notably less optimistic at 24%.
International and national threats
In 2025, various international and national threats to stability and growth were present. For 2026, respondents see political stagnation in the Netherlands as a major concern at 34%. Additionally, 40% of respondents have some concerns about this. Major concerns are particularly prevalent in agriculture at 53%. This is followed by industry and public administration, both at 50%. Furthermore, 33% of respondents have significant concerns about cyberattacks, especially in education and public administration. Further escalation of the war in Ukraine is a major concern for 29%. Only 22% see stagnation of the economy in the Eurozone and/or a trade war between the European Union and the United States as a major concern. Concerns about stagnation in the Eurozone or a trade war are particularly prevalent in internationally operating sectors such as trade, agriculture, and logistics.
AI and personnel
In the Netherlands, entrepreneurs, executives, and financial managers have high expectations for the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, in their business processes for the coming year. No less than 67% expect a slight to strong increase in this in 2026 within their own organization. Additionally, 62% expect a slight to strong increase in the digitalization of their business processes. This expectation is similarly high among respondents, regardless of age, province, labor participation, education, or political preference. Especially respondents from public administration and government services see more AI coming: as much as 94% expect a slight to strong increase. Also, in ICT itself, 81% and in education, 79% of respondents expect significant growth of AI.
However, most respondents do not expect the deployment of AI to coincide with significant changes in the number of colleagues. Growth in the workforce is expected by respondents in public administration and government services, including defense, with 56% expecting a slight to strong increase. In ICT, this is at 38%, and in construction at 36%. At the same time, a slight to strong decrease in the workforce is expected in ICT and education at 34%.
About the research
This research was conducted online between November 21 and 25, 2025, by Nextens tax software in collaboration with PanelWizard Direct among 825 respondents, working as self-employed with staff or employed, and within the organization ultimately responsible for or (co-)deciding on finances. Of these respondents, 19% work at companies with up to 10 employees and 24% at companies with more than 1,000 employees.
About Nextens
Nextens is the market leader in tax software and the tax knowledge partner of financial professionals. Nextens handles about 50% of the professionally submitted income tax returns, 40% of corporate tax returns, gift tax, and inheritance tax, and about 20% of VAT returns. Nextens is based in Amsterdam and is part of RELX, a global provider of data, analytics, and decision platforms for professionals. RELX operates in more than 40 countries with over 30,000 employees worldwide. More information at nextens.nl.
