Netherlands

Doing Business in the Netherlands



**Important Facts**
= = =Things to Remember:= Area code: 20 || Lelystad Airport Texel International Airport Eindhoven Airport Maastricht Aachen Airport Rotterdam Airport Groningen Airport Eelde || = = =Dutch Holidays for 2011= = = = = =Economy=
 * **Area** || 16,485 sq. miles ||
 * **Capital** || Amsterdam ||
 * **Terrain** || Coastal lowland ||
 * **Climate** || Northern maritime, with cool summers and mild winters. ||
 * **Population** || 16.6 million ||
 * **Ethnic Groups** || Predominantly Dutch, large minority communities are: Moroccans, Turks, Surinamese, and Dutch Caribbean. ||
 * **Religions** || Largest groups are Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim. ||
 * **Language** || Dutch ||
 * **Education** || Attendance: nearly 100%. Literacy: 99%. ||
 * **Civilian Employment** || * Industry 11.2%
 * manufacturing 16.9%
 * services 80.1%
 * agriculture 2.9% ||
 * **Type of Government** || Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch ||
 * **Political Parties** || Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Labor Party (PvdA), Freedom Party (PVV), Socialist Party (SP), Liberal Party (VVD), other minor parties. ||
 * **Time Zone** || Central European Time ||
 * **Dialing Codes** || International country code: + 31
 * **Airports** || Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
 * New Year's Day || 1 January ||
 * Good Friday || 22 April ||
 * Easter Sunday || 24 April ||
 * Easter Monday || 25 April ||
 * Queen's Birthday || 30 April ||
 * Liberation Day || 5 May ||
 * Ascension Day || 2 June ||
 * Whit Sunday || 12 June ||
 * Whit Monday || 13 June ||
 * Christmas Day || 25 December ||
 * Boxing Day || 26 December ||
 * **Natural Resources** || Natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil. ||
 * **Agriculture Products** || dairy, poultry, meat, livestock, flower bulbs, cut flowers, vegetables and fruits, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, barley. ||
 * **Types of Industry** || agro-industries, steel and aluminum, metal and engineering products, electric machinery and equipment, bulk chemicals, natural gas, petroleum products, construction, transport equipment, microelectronics, fishing. ||
 * **Types of Services** || trade, hotels, restaurants, transport, storage, communication, financial banking, insurance, business services, care, and other. ||
 * **Trade Exports** || machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, mineral fuels, processed food and tobacco, agricultural products. ||
 * **Trade Imports** || mineral fuels and crude petroleum, machinery, transportation equipment, chemicals, mineral fuels and crude petroleum, consumer goods, foodstuffs. ||


 * ~ Major trading partners ||~ Exports ||~ Imports ||
 * **EU** || 74.5% || 55.6% ||
 * **Germany** || 24.1% || 19.6% ||
 * **Belgium** || 11% || 10% ||
 * **China** || 1.5% || 7.9% ||
 * **United Kingdom** || 8.4% || 6.1% ||
 * **U.S.** || 4.5% || 8.4% ||
 * **France** || 8.9% || 4.9% ||

=Business Etiquette=
 * They will want to know your academic credentials
 * The amount of time your company has been in business.
 * Demonstrate how your relationship would be beneficial for both sides.
 * The Dutch take a long-term perspective when looking at business
 * Be clear what your company's intentions are.
 * The Dutch value their personal time
 * Reserved and formal in business
 * The Dutch are extremely direct in their communication.
 * They expect to be told yes or no in clear words.
 * Ideas will be discussed quite openly at meetings, with everyone entitled to their opinion.
 * Your word is your bond and if you make claims that later prove to be untrue that will brand you as unreliable.


 * =Do's= || =Don'ts= ||
 * Punctuality for meetings is taken extremely seriously. || Do not try to schedule meetings during the summer (June through August),this is the normal vacation period. ||
 * If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. || Do not be late it may mark you as untrustworthy and someone who may not meet other deadlines. ||
 * Maintain direct eye contact while speaking. || Do not cancel a meeting at the last minute it could jeopardize your business relationship. ||
 * Always appear modest || Do not attempt to deviate from the agenda. Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times. ||
 * Maintain the proper distance || Do not ask them to work late or come in over the weekend if you want to foster a good working relationship. ||
 * || Do not make exaggerated claims about what you or your company can deliver. ||
 * || Do not demonstrate emotion or use exaggerated hand gestures. ||
 * || Do not touch one another ||

Works Cited:

"Holland.com : Business Hours." The Official Website of The Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .

"Netherlands." U.S. Department of State. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .

"Employment Law in The Netherlands | Lassche Advocaten: Attornies at Law in the Netherlands." Lassche Advocaten Voor Ondernemers. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .

"Current Local Time in Netherlands – Amsterdam." Timeanddate.com. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .

"Airports in Netherlands, Netherland Airports, Airports of Netherland." Tours to Netherland, Netherland Tour, Trip to Netherland, Touring Netherlands. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .

"Why Export to the Netherlands? -- U.S. Commercial Service The Netherlands." //Home -- U.S. Commercial Service Your Global Business Partner//. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. .