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Few companies ever bid, while SMEs win most contracts. The threshold lies before the bid, not after it.
Checked on 15-09-2026
Of Dutch companies with staff, about 2.4% bid at least once in five years on an open tender via TenderNed; that is our own division of CBS figures for 2017 to 2021. Those who do take part win regularly: 68% of contracts go to SMEs, and when both SMEs and large companies bid, SMEs win in 47% of cases and large companies in 34% (TenderNed, December 2023).
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) found that company size mainly determines whether a company takes part, and less whether it wins afterwards. The threshold therefore lies before the bid. PIANOo, the government's public procurement expertise centre, lists as the main barriers for SMEs: high requirements, contracts that are too large, the chosen procedure and the cost of preparing a bid. SMEs also have fewer people available for time-consuming and complex procedures.
According to SEOR, the SME association MKB-Nederland points to a strong focus on lowest price and to a proliferation of requirements outside the substance of the contract, such as social return, sustainability, inclusion and safety. Social return in particular often causes problems for SMEs. Meanwhile, the average number of bids per open tender is falling, from 4.2 in 2017 to 3.4 in the first half of 2024.
What the figures do not tell: which company did or did not bid. According to CBS, TenderNed does not see all bidders; what is public is mainly the awards. We therefore never say that a particular company does not take part, only whether it appears as a winner.
What this means for you: the fact that you have not taken part so far says little about whether you can win. The first step is to see what is being tendered in your field and who wins it, without having to decide anything yet. After that you assess per tender whether the requirements and the size suit you.
These articles explain how public tendering works; they are not legal advice. If you are unsure about a specific tender, ask your question through the clarification round or consult a lawyer.
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