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Business Profile
Economy: The Netherlands has a typical developed European economy. It is also the world’s third largest exporter of farm produce (after the USA and France) accounting for 16 per cent of total export earnings. Dairy products, meat, vegetables and flowers are the main products. Industry is concentrated in petrochemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals, synthetic fibres and food processing. There is also a wide range of light industries, including the manufacturing of electronic goods, although the historically strong textiles sector is in decline. In the last 20 years, The Netherlands has developed a strong base in advanced technological industries including computing, telecommunications and biotechnology. Deposits of natural gas (the only mineral resource of any size) meet much of the country’s energy needs. Service industries are also important, notably transport through the world’s busiest container port at Rotterdam.
The Netherlands has derived substantial benefits from its membership of the EU, with whose members the bulk of its trade takes place. It has generally been a strong proponent of further economic integration within Europe and joined the Eurozone upon its inception in January 1999. The global recession of 2001-02 has seen the Dutch economy growing at a sluggish 1.5 per cent (although it should pick up somewhat in 2003); the unemployment level has been steady at just over two per cent for several years, while inflation is just under three per cent. Germany is the largest single trading partner, accounting for about 25 per cent of The Netherlands’ imports and exports. Belgium/Luxembourg, France and the UK follow. The Netherlands is a founder member of the Benelux Economic Union and of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Business: Appointments are necessary and visiting cards are exchanged. The Dutch expect a certain standard of dress for business occasions. Best months for business visits are March to May and September to November. Practical information can be obtained from the Economic Information Service in The Hague (tel: (70) 379 8933; fax: (70) 379 7878; e-mail: evd@evd.nl; website: www.hollandtrade.com). The majority of Dutch businesspeople speak extremely good English, and promotional literature can be disseminated in English. However, interpreters can be booked through Conference Interpreters, Jan van Goyenkade 11, 1075 HP Amsterdam (tel: (20) 625 2535; fax: (20) 626 5642; e-mail: interpreters@conferenceinterpreters.com; website: www.conferenceinterpreters.com). Alternatively, they can be booked through The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in the country of departure. (There are Netherlands-British Chambers of Commerce in London, Manchester and The Hague, and Netherlands-US Chambers of Commerce in New York and Chicago.) There are also many secretarial agencies in The Netherlands, such as International Secretaries, who will be able to supply short-term help to visiting business travellers. The principal venue for trade fairs is the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1700.
Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: The Hague Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Konigskade 30, 2502 LS Gravenhage, The Hague (tel: (70) 328 7100; fax: (70) 326 2010; e-mail: info@denhaag.kvk.nl; website: www.denhaag.kvk.nl); or
Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, De Ruyterkade 5, 1000 CW Amsterdam (tel: (20) 531 4000; fax: (20) 531 4799; e-mail: post@amsterdam.kvk.nl; website: www.amsterdam.kvk.nl); or The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, 307 High Holborn, London WC1V 7LS, UK (tel: (020) 7405 1358; fax: (020) 7405 1689; e-mail: nbcc@btinternet.com; website: www.nbcc.com).
Conferences/Conventions: The largest conference and exhibition centres are RAI in Amsterdam and the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. There are smaller centres in The Hague, Rotterdam and Maastricht, as well as many hotels with facilities. The fourth-largest conference centre in The Netherlands is Noordwijk, where the largest hotel has a helipad; this small seaside town has won prizes for its clean beaches. Amsterdam and The Hague both have business centres. For further information, contact the Netherlands Board of Tourism in London (see Contact Addresses section) or The Hague Convention Bureau, PO Box 85456, 2508 CD The Hague (tel: (70) 364 9311; fax: (70) 361 5459; e-mail: conventionbureau@denhaag.com, website: www.thehaguecongress.com).
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