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Top Countries for Business Travel in 2019 – Netherlands

Moving down one place to number four in the top countries for business travel in 2019, is the Netherlands

At around 16 times smaller than the state of Texas, it is surprising that such a small country has maintained its spot in the top 5 countries for business travel, but according to Forbes, this is due to its ‘consistently high trade surplus, stable industrial relations, and low unemployment’.

Why Do Business in the Netherlands?

  • The Netherlands is a stepping stone into the European market and a gateway into the European Union (EU), with access to 95% of Europe’s most lucrative consumer markets within 24 hours of Amsterdam or Rotterdam (PwC)
  • The Netherlands shares land borders with Germany and Belgium ,and maritime borders with France and the UK, playing an important role as a European Transportation hub
  • The Netherlands is part of the euro zone, with the euro becoming its official currency in 2002. The euro is currently weaker than both the £ and $, meaning more spending money for your next business trip
  • It has the 6th largest economy in the European Union and the 13th freest economy in the world, due to its openness to global trade and investment (Heritage)
  • Top industries include agrifood, energy, logistics, the creative industries, information and technology, high tech systems, chemicals, and life sciences and health
  • Its capital city, Amsterdam, and other cities, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven are major business hubs, each specialising in these various industries
  • Known for its R&D and IT, the Netherlands scored 2nd within the Global Innovation Index for 2018. According to PwC, 70% of Dutch Innovation is IT related
  • The Netherlands is the 2nd largest agricultural exporter in the world (Forbes)
  • Its official language is Dutch, but English is also widely spoken, with the Netherlands scoring 2nd on the English Proficiency Index 2018. A higher percentage of the Dutch population also speak German and French than their counterparts elsewhere (PwC)
  • The Netherlands has a highly skilled workforce with an almost 100% literacy rate and 20% of the population moving into higher education
  • The Netherlands has a high standard of living and a lower cost of living than most European countries. It has one of the highest incomes per capita in the EU (PwC)
  • According to the United Nations World Happiness Report 2019, it is the 5th happiest country in the world
  • The Netherlands was joint 8th in the least corrupt countries index 2018 (Transparency International)
  • The Netherlands has a strong business environment with a supportive tax structure and competitive corporate tax rate (compared to the rest of Europe)
  • The Dutch infrastructure is one of the best in the world, with an extensive road and rail network and a digital telecommunications network that ranks among the world’s best for quality, speed and reliability. The Netherlands also has world-class airports and the largest port in Europe: The Port of Rotterdam
  • The Netherlands is GMT+1 in winter and GMT+2 in the summer. Its position in the Central European Time zone makes communication within Europe easier and more accessible
  • The Netherlands has a temperate marine climate with cool summers and mild winters. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 3°C and the warmest month is August with an average temperature of 17°C

If you would like to have your Business Travel Simplified, then speak with a member of our team on (028) 9038 9007 or email hello@selective-travel.co.uk