Thirteen businesses across Flevoland went bankrupt during June and July, according to local filings, hitting sectors ranging from agriculture and hospitality to child care and shipping. Among the notable closures is J.P. Farms in Rutten, identified as one of the region’s largest pig farms, which succumbed to a combination of pandemic fallout, soaring post-war feed prices, and depressed piglet prices.
J.P. Farms, acquired in 2020, cannot sustain operations any longer, according to the curator. However, the six employees will not lose their jobs immediately. The farm continues to operate until all the piglets are sent to slaughter. Because many of the pigs are pregnant, the curator estimates this process could take up to three months. Meanwhile, discussions are underway with the province regarding the potential purchase of the farm to reduce nitrogen emissions.
Hospitality, Retail, and Transport Closures
Restaurant De Beren in downtown Almere closed its doors in June after nearly twenty years of operation. The establishment faced multiple poor reviews in recent years, including a critical review from De Volkskrant, according to various media reports. The bankruptcy leaves approximately thirty employees out of work, though the curator is exploring a restart, and the overarching company hopes to continue in Almere with a new franchisee.
In Lelystad, autobrandenhandelaar Neva Ocean’s B.V. filed for bankruptcy in early June after export hurdles mounted. The firm exported shredded car tires from the Amsterdam port to Turkey. When clients failed to accept all shipments in 2024, roughly 660 tons of shredded tires accumulated in the port. Altered European regulations in 2025 further complicated sales until trade ground to a halt. The company employed no staff, and no restart is planned.
Did You Know? Vishandel Dadas on Urk collapsed under a heavy financial burden, leaving behind a massive tax debt owed to the fiscus alongside an overall million-euro debt, resulting in 15 job losses with no restart in sight.
Childcare, Healthcare, and Specialized Services
Public-facing services also felt the squeeze. Children’s play palace Twinkle Star closed its Buiten branch in Almere. Its Stad location had already been declared bankrupt in October following the death of a director in August and the subsequent revocation of its permit by the GGD in September due to a missing board. The employment impact and the feasibility of a restart for the remaining two Almere locations remain unclear.
Home healthcare provider Kwaliteit Zorg in Almere also ceased operations. The Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd imposed a client stop in May, requiring improvements that ultimately did not materialize. The director informed the curator that he holds a criminal record, which may have made health insurers hesitant to provide financing. Four employees lost their jobs, and no restart is planned.
Additional Bankruptcies Across the Region
Several smaller enterprises across Flevoland also folded during the two-month window. Waxing salon Waxing Novia in Almere went bankrupt in early July due to high costs, affecting four employees while a potential restart is investigated. In Dronten, interior builder IFY Interior For You faced water damage prior to opening in 2023 and accumulated debt within six months. Compleet Vloeren in Emmeloord shut down after falling short of income needed to hire freelance floor layers, impacting two staff members. Prefab BV in Biddinghuizen, a house builder, filed for bankruptcy in early June after failing to find an acquisition candidate, though a separate party stepped in to finish three ongoing projects. IT firm Ducore Diensten in Lelystad succumbed to low demand, leaving six workers jobless. Finally, Zero Emission Shipping in Almere liquidated after hydrogen solutions for inland vessels proved more expensive and time-consuming than anticipated, displacing nine employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did J.P. Farms in Rutten go bankrupt?
According to the curator, the pig farm faced a cascade of challenges following its 2020 acquisition, including the coronavirus crisis, soaring feed prices after the Ukraine war, and persistently low piglet prices.
What is happening to the animals at the bankrupt pig farm?
The farm will continue to operate under the curator’s supervision until all the piglets are sent to slaughter, a process expected to take up to three months because many animals are pregnant.
Are any of the closed businesses planning a restart?
While several companies like De Beren and Waxing Novia have curators or parent companies exploring potential restarts, others such as Kwaliteit Zorg, Neva Ocean’s B.V., Dadas, and Zero Emission Shipping face permanent liquidation with no restart expected.
Which local industry sectors do you think remain most vulnerable to ongoing economic and regulatory pressures in the region?