COUNTRY PROFILES
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NetherlandsCapital Currency Population EU status GDP Employment Government type Religions Languages Exports Imports |
COUNTRY PROFILE
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Netherlands |
Print article Windmill at Zaanse Schans Windmill Museum, Zaandam |
A key member of the EU, the Netherlands can claim to be the “gateway to Europe”. A skilled and highly educated population, a famously international and businessminded outlook, and a transport network spreading from the European–Asia hub port of Rotterdam are major points in the Netherlands’ favour as a business destination. Chris Devries, President of AmCham Netherlands, and Managing Director of Citibank, NA, looks at what the American Chamber of Commerce is doing to make the country even more attractive to US investors.
Encouraging business
Established in 1961 and now in its fifth decade of service to the US business community, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands seeks to further the development of commerce between the United States of America and the Netherlands. AmCham Netherlands encourages and facilitates the transaction of business between both countries and promotes the interests of its members in matters of trade and investment.
A unique service
Since its inception the Chamber has successfully addressed its resources to issues related to improving the investment and trading climate between the Netherlands and the US. By drawing on the experience of its standing committees — and its membership at large — the Chamber has been able to render a unique service to the American-Netherlands business community in giving guidance, for example, in areas of taxation, human resource management and legal issues, and in bringing the concerns of its members to the attention of appropriate bodies on both sides of the Atlantic.
A two-way business
Chamber member companies employ over 1.3 million people in the Netherlands. Of these, American companies directly employ over 200,000 persons and are the source of almost 5% of the country’s GNP. Total assets of US non-bank foreign affiliates are estimated to total over $650 billion. Over the past decade alone direct investment flows have totalled over $100 billion. American business has had good reason to come to the Netherlands in the past and the Chamber works to ensure they have good reason to stay in the future.
 Rotterdam |
Many Dutch Chamber members are significant investors in the US. Well over $165 billion of investment has flowed from the Netherlands to the United States — making the Netherlands the third-largest foreign investor in the US. The common denominator shared by all our members is a belief in the importance of two-way trade and investment between the Netherlands and the US as an essential basis for creating mutual economic welfare.
The Netherlands’ liberal attitude towards foreign trade and investment has contributed significantly to its prosperity. As Chamber members operate from a base in the Netherlands, it is in their fundamental interest that the country be internationally competitive. In an increasingly competitive international environment the business and investment climate has to be constantly improved. The Chamber makes it its business to advocate this constant review of the investment climate — to retain and sharpen the competitive edge.
Priority points
AmCham’s Investors’ Agenda of Priority Points — our programme to increase entrepreneurial activity and foreign investment — has become our visiting card in ongoing dialogue with government, employer organisations, legislators, labour unions and others. The issues raised have been distilled from concerns expressed by our members — business leaders and practitioners who are daily faced with investment challenges. The solutions proposed are born out of maximising the economic benefit to business and society as a whole — more investment, more labour participation and enhancement of productive capacity.
There is continuing progress and concern on the part of the Dutch government to implement policy to further strengthen the Netherlands’ international competitive position and address the challenges head on. The Netherlands is a country with a clear commitment to maximize growth and entrepreneurial activity by creating the conditions necessary for business — both domestic and foreign — to prosper and grow.
Facts in brief
The Netherland’s location is Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany. Located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
Its climate is temperate: marine; cool summers and mild winters
Natural resources include natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Agricultural products are grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, livestock
Industries include agro-industries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
The Netherlands has a civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Diplomatic representation in the US — Chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J Van Eenennaam
Diplomatic representation from the US — Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires: Chat Blakeman
Contact Information
American Chamber of
Commerce in the
Netherlands
Scheveningseweg 58
2517 KW The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 70 365 9808
E-mail: office@amcham.nl
Website: www.amcham.nl
Useful websites
| netherlands.usembassy.gov | US Embassy in the Netherlands |
| www.nfia.com | Foreign Investment Agency |
| www.government.nl | Government page with links to all ministries, news source |
| www.cbs.nl/en | Institute of Statistics |
| www.goholland.com | Official tourist board website |