An International and Business Perspective

The Netherlands’ trading history began a thousand years ago, and by the mid-1600s it was the foremost commercial and maritime power of Europe, with Amsterdam the financial center of the continent.

Part of this outward-looking economic attitude was something the Dutch came by naturally: with its proximity to the sea, and location on the estuaries of three major European rivers, the Netherlands has had major ports since the Middle Ages, and Rotterdam is still the biggest port in the world. Today, the Netherlands’ transportation infrastructure includes the busy Schiphol International Airport, as well as excellent highway and rail connections to all parts of Europe. The telecom infrastructure is no less substantial: with a state-of-the-art digital telecommunications network, the Netherlands is the information gateway to Europe as well.

Finally, this long trading heritage persists in the people themselves. For instance, the Dutch have one of the highest percentages in Europe — almost 80% — of both multi-lingual citizens and those who can speak English well enough to converse. Motivated, and well-educated, it’s a workforce proven to be flexible and responsive to ever-changing market conditions and trends.