The number of companies going bankrupt in the first six months of this year is down almost 26% on the same period a year ago, according to website Faillissementsdossier.nl.

However, despite the sharp fall, the website says that in 2007, just before the financial crisis, there were half the number of bankruptcies in the first half of the year.

The website says the fall is the result of ‘the recovery in the financial situation and increased consumer confidence’.