Almost one in three people in the Netherlands would prefer to be their own boss, slightly below the European average, according to research by the European Commission.

On average, 37% of Europeans want to work for themselves, down from 45% in 2009. This ‘reflects the current economic situation with less promising business prospects and the increased wish for a secure employment’, the Commission said in a statement.
Outside Europe the picture is very different. Eight out of 10 Turks want to be their own boss, as do 63% of Brazilians and 56% of Chinese, the research showed.
There has been a sharp rise in people going it alone in the Netherlands in recent years. Earlier this week, the Chamber of Commerce said 96% of new firms created in the Netherlands last year were one-man-operated companies.
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