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DNB is responsible for compiling the Dutch balance of payments, in close cooperation with Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The balance of payments provides an overview of the transactions between the Netherlands and other countries in a given period, and thus an impression of how our economy is doing. The balance of payments has three components: the current account, the capital account and the financial account.
This dashboard presents the development of the balance on these accounts. Balance of payments figures are prepared in accordance with the sixth edition of the IMF's balance of payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6).
The balance of payments provides an overview of the transactions between the Netherlands and other countries in a given period. These transactions between Dutch residents and non-residents are divided over three accounts: the current account, the capital account and the financial account, as explained below.
The current account includes international trade in goods and services, as well as primary and secondary income transactions. Primary income transactions include wages, interest and dividends. Examples of secondary income transactions are pension benefits and insurance payments, development aid and personal funds transfers.
The current account balance is the difference between income from abroad and expenditure abroad in the current account. The Netherlands has had a positive current account balance, also known as a surplus, for decades. This is mainly due to the structural export surplus of goods and services. There is much international attention on the Dutch current account surplus as it is consistently above the 6% norm set by the European Commission as part of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP). The MIP aims to identify potential macroeconomic imbalances in the euro area that could adversely affect the EU economy or the euro.
The capital account includes transactions in non-produced, non-financial assets, in addition to capital transfers. Capital transfers include gifts of capital goods, debt cancellation, inheritances and legacies. Non-produced non-financial assets include, for example, brand rights and football transfers.
The spike in the capital account balance in the second quarter of 2022 is largely due to the sale of intellectual property by a Dutch business unit of a foreign multinational to a foreign unit of the same multinational. Never before has the capital account balance in the Netherlands or indeed in the entire euro area approached this amount.
The financial account lists transactions in financial assets and liabilities, e.g. shares, deposits and real estate. The financial account is divided into five sections:
24 June 2025
News
In the first quarter, the current account balance was 9,9% of GDP, almost the same as last year. Despite rising geopolitical tensions, imports and exports of goods and services increased.
Read more Current account balance remains high
06 June 2025
Press release
The Dutch economy is set to grow by 1.1% in 2025. Uncertainty and trade tensions will continue to mute economic growth at around 1% a year for the following two years. This is according to the Spring Projections as published by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) on Friday.
Read more Uncertainty and trade tensions weigh on economic growth
27 May 2025
News
Recent years have seen Dutch banks lend more to domestic businesses, following a period in which growth in corporate lending lagged behind the euro area average. This is according to new figures from DNB which are discussed in the Dutch economists’ journal ESB today.
Read more Dutch corporate bank lending picks up
22 May 2025
News
Based on a broader definition of investment income, the average Dutch current account surplus for the period 2021-2023 falls from 8.8% to 7.5%. This has emerged from an analysis conducted by DNB. The broader definition is in line with a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendation.
Read more Broader definition of income leads to lower current account surplus