Dutch Corporate Boards Observe Slight Gender Increase, But Progress Stalls

The share of women on Dutch corporate boards has seen a modest increase, but progress towards gender parity remains slow, according to a recent report by the Social and Economic Council (SER). While the percentage of women on boards has risen slightly, representation on supervisory boards has stagnated, raising concerns about the pace of change.

Key Findings from the SER Report

The SER’s Gender Balance Monitor for 2024 reveals that women now comprise 17.3% of board members, a 2 percentage point increase. However, the representation of women on supervisory boards – which oversee company management – remains at approximately 26% and has not grown in the past three years.

Since 2022, Dutch companies with over 50 employees have been legally required to report on the gender distribution of their top management. The goal is to achieve a workforce comprised of one-third women. Approximately 5,000 companies fall under this law, but roughly one-third have not yet submitted the required data. The SER report publicly identifies companies that have not reported their figures.

Male Dominance Persists at the Top

Despite the slight gains, a significant portion of Dutch corporate leadership remains male-dominated. 56% of boards and 30.5% of supervisory boards consist entirely of men. The target of one-third female representation remains out of reach for many companies.

Government and Industry Response

State Secretary Tielen of Education and Emancipation acknowledged the findings and pledged to address the issue. “Women and men are not inferior to each other when it comes to quality at the top. But these figures show that there is still a world to be gained in the number of women in a top position,” she stated.

Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen, a member of the supervisory board of Siemens Netherlands, emphasized the demand for concrete action plans. She noted that only 4 in 10 companies currently have such plans in place, a figure unchanged since 2022. “This ensures that gender balance becomes part of a company’s DNA,” Soeteman-Reijnen said. “That’s why something like this can’t just be left to HR.”

Netherlands Lags Behind European Peers

Recent European research indicates that the Netherlands is lagging behind other European countries in terms of gender diversity at the leadership level. “We are really behind and it shows that there is still work to be done,” Soeteman-Reijnen added.

The SER presented its report to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, signaling a commitment to addressing the ongoing challenges in achieving gender balance in Dutch corporate leadership.