2013 – a difficult year for the Dutch construction industry
As a late-cyclic sector, the Dutch construction sector was unable to benefit from the first cautious signs of economic recovery in other sectors in 2013. Government involvement was not sufficient to bring about renewed confidence on the building and housing market. It was even counterproductive in terms of investment opportunities for commercial and non-commercial builders. As a consequence, the number of new dwellings built shrank further in 2013. Performance on the renovation market was insufficient to compensate for this further slide.
“Moving forward together”
A healthy construction sector can serve society by providing innovative solutions to climate-proof and energy-neutral or low-energy buildings. Such a strategy is a central element in the Dutch National Energy Agreement, a broad-based agreement entered into in 2013 by government, employers’ and employees’ organizations and environmental groups. The construction industry is positive about this agreement. It invites investments in the future and challenges new opportunities for building ceramics.
Sales and market developments
The past few years have seen a situation of...
