• GDP: US$768 billion (2007 estimate).
• Main exports: Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels and food.
• Main imports: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, food and clothes.
• Main trade partners: EU countries (mainly Germany, France, UK and Belgium), and China.

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% of total export earnings. Dairy products, meat, vegetables and flowers are the main products. Industry is concentrated in agriculture, petrochemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals, synthetic fibres and food processing.

There is also a wide range of light industries, including the manufacturing of electronic goods (Philips, of Eindhoven is a major global brand), although the historically strong textile industry has been in long-term decline. By contrast, 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, representing 70% of the economy, 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 1999.

The Dutch are known for directness in business - they like to cut to the heart of the matter in hand straight away. Following introduction, it is quite normal to dispense with titles and formality - first names are the rule. 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: (070) 379 8933; 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 Congrestolken  (tel: (020) 625 2535; website: www.conferenceinterpreters.com).

Alternatively, they can be booked through The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (see Business Contacts below) in the country of departure. There are also many secretarial agencies in The Netherlands which are able to supply short-term help to visiting business travellers. The principal venue for trade fairs is the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam (website: www.rai.nl).

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1700.

The largest conference and exhibition centres are RAI in Amsterdam (website: www.rai.nl), the Jaarbeurs centre in Utrecht (website: www.jaarbeursutrecht.nl), MECC in Maastricht (website: www.mecc.nl), and Ahoy in Rotterdam (website www.ahoy.nl). There are numerous hotels offering conventions and meetings facilities, and The Netherlands is well supplied with ‘unique' venues, such as Eindhoven's Evoluon (website: www.evoluon.com) and Corpus (www.corpusexperience.nl) at Leiden.

The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce
Koningskade 30, 2596 AA The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: (070) 328 7100.
Website: www.kvk.nl 

The Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce in the UK
Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UN, UK
Tel: (020) 7539 7960.
Website: www.nbcc.co.uk

The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in the USA
267 Fifth Avenue, Suite 301, New York, NY 10016, USA
Tel: (212) 265 6460.
Website: www.nlcoc.com