Key Economic Sectors

of the Netherlands

Introducing
the Netherlands

Worldwide ranking

A country that the Dutch created in the delta of three large

rivers, owing into the North Sea Where two thirds of GDP
are earned below sea level Where there used to be a lake
almost two million acres wide where Amsterdam Airport
Schiphol is today Where innovative and daring solutions
for water control protect half of the country against the
risk of being ooded. It earned us a worldwide reputation
We know water.

A country that was in need of more land for agriculture

Where land was reclaimed from the sea and kept dry: the
famous 'polders'. A country supposedly too cold to grow
certain vegetables and owers... Where greenhouses were
invented as a solution to this problem. Where Dutch
farmers now produce 2.5 times more food per acre than EU
farmers produce on average We know food & owers.

1st

Production and auctioning of cut owers and ower bulbs

1st

Number of broadband connections per 100 inhabitants

2nd

Export of agricultural products

2nd

Quality of Water Transportation

3rd

Density of road network

4th

Largest seaport

4th

Logistics performance Index

4th

Global democracy Index

5th

Export of goods

5th

Dutch investments abroad

6th

Foreign direct investment in the Netherlands

7th

Import of goods

10th
11th

A country with an open and cooperative attitude Whose

residents have always felt the need to explore what lies
beyond its borders... Where the worlds rst multinational
corporation originated in the 17th century. A country
where, today, 87% of people who are 15 years or older speak
English We know international business.

Import of commercial services

Facts & gures

Form of government
Capital city
Seat of the government
Composition of the country
Language

A country that is the gateway to Europe Connecting nearly

half a billion consumers in the European hinterland to
the worlds producers Thanks to the world-class Port of
Rotterdam, the internationally praised Amsterdam Airport
Schiphol, an extensive network of waterways, Europes
strongest road transport sector and an extensive network of
rail links We know logistics.

Export of commercial services

Monetary unit
Population
GDP
Per capita income

Parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy

Amsterdam
The Hague
12 provinces, overseas territories of Aruba and
the Netherlands Antilles
Dutch
Euro
16,605,792 (July 2010)
656 billion $ (2009)
39,704 $ per capita (2009)

Export partners

Germany 25%; Belgium 12.6%; UK 9.2%; France 8.1%;

Italy 4.7%; US 4.5% (2009)

Import partners

Germany: 19.6%; Belgium: 10.0%; US: 8.4%; China: 7.9%;

UK: 6.1%; France: 4.9% (2009)

Dutch Investments abroad

844 billion $ (2008)

Foreign direct investment in

the Netherlands

645 billion $ (2008)

Command of foreign languages

English (87% of > 15 years old), German (66%) and French (25%)

Sources: Here's Holland Compared, CBS, World Bank, IMF, OECD, WTO, UNCTAD, EIU, IMD Business School.

Knowledge is power. Sharing knowledge is more powerful.

Doing business the Dutch way is doing business with you and for you!
It's not about quick xes or easy money, but about cooperation and
consideration of individual needs of partners Trade is in our DNA.
It makes us Pioneers in International Business.

Key aspects and strengths

Horticulture
The Dutch horticultural cluster is a global trendsetter and the undisputed international market

2.

Source: Dutch Horticulture Board, Flora Holland

www.tuinbouw.nl
www.bloembollencentrum.nl
www.plantum.nl
www.avag.nl
www.anthos.org

Food
World leader in food innovation
The Dutch food sector is one of the main drivers of the Dutch economy. The Dutch food industry
proportionally holds a larger share in the national industrial production than in other countries of
the European Union, not in the last place because the Netherlands is the country of origin of
several world-renowned food and dairy multinationals. The Netherlands is also a hotbed of R&D in
the area of food technology, particularly thanks to the work of the universities of Wageningen,
Groningen, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Maastricht. These activities are supported by the presence of
world-class institutes and companies in the area of medicine, logistics, sensor technology and
other related industries.

Key aspects and strengths

authoritative agrifood and nutrition research centre in Europe, if not the world.
Wageningen is also home to the only business incubator in Europe dedicated
exclusively to agrifood entrepreneurs.
entire food and ingredient industry.

products they eat in this restaurant that is also a laboratory.

Food near Amsterdam and Foodsteps in the South.

The innovation programme Food & Nutrition aims at making the Netherlands a leading food
innovation region in Europe and to improve the competitiveness of the sector. The programme
programme for strengthening the innovative capacity of the industry. The programme strives to
cooperate with international partners and to open up its programme to foreign research institutes
and industry.

Nearly one in six people hold a job in the food industry.

generated by SMEs.

Sources: CBS, LEI, Eurostat

A few websites
www.foodnutritiondelta.nl - Dutch food and nutrition innovation programme
www.foodvalley.nl - World-renowned food and nutrition research cluster
www.fnli.nl - Dutch Federation for Food industry
www.pve.nl
www.cov.nl - Dutch Meat Association
www.nepluvi.nl
www.gmv-fme.nl
food processing and packaging

Environmental
Technologies

Key aspects and strengths

always been a priority. Traditionally, Dutch government, business and academia co-operate
closely on environmental solutions, regulations and policies and, correspondingly, have

Dutch expertise protecting the worlds environment

soil remediation, and environmental management and consultancy. Technological expertise

is complemented with progressive environmental polices and strong institutional
management practices. Waste processing is highly advanced in the Netherlands, with
extensive IT-based recycling programmes and sustainable incineration in place of land-

environmental impact studies, environmental and sustainability rapports, and corporate

social responsibility strategies.
in the areas of soil management, water technology, membrane bioreactors, the built
environment, and sustainable coastal protection.
monitoring of water systems.

treatment of sewage and wastewater, in developing new technologies and in providing

issues like aerosols, measurement and modelling, climate change and foul odours. In the
area of noise management, Dutch companies develop noise-abatement facilities (such as

economy that produces non-food items using biological materials.

services in complex rural, urban and coastal development projects, for example, the Diamond

companies work in close cooperation with universities and renowned research institutions

In recent years, the total number of completed remediation operations has been rising. In

kilotons of glass.

brown goods, medical equipment and certain types of lighting, responsible for the collection

A few websites

Source: Bollegraaf Recycling Solutions

www.vlm.fme.nl
www.onri.nl
www.nsp-soil.nl
www.nwmp.nl
www.dwma.eu
www.aquanederland.nl
www.skbodem.nl
www.wetsus.nl - Wetsus research institute for water
www.tno.nl - Dutch independent research organisation

Key aspects and strengths

Sustainable energy
and biomass

import, production and export of bio ethanol and 25 per cent of its bio diesel.
2
2

The Netherlands has embraced a courageous vision: by 2050, the country will have a sustainable,
2 emissions have been halved and 40 per cent
of electricity is derived from sustainable sources. The remaining 60 per cent of electricity will

regard to patent applications involving solar energy.

it is expected that by 2050 the chemical industry will use half of its resources from biomass.
2

use of heat pumps combined with heat and cold storage.

government, private sector, and academia co-operate on topics such as green materials, built
greenhouses as a source of energy. The Netherlands aims to achieve 6,000 MW of wind power
and is experimenting with energy from waves, algae and biomass. It is expected that about half

horticulture industry.

per cent of net electricity consumption, growing from 7.5 per cent in 2008. The most

into a biobased economy.

incinerators to power, heat and reusable resources from the ashes.

A few websites
www.cleantechholland.nl
www.dekoepel.org
www.energiened.nl

Source: Energising the Future

www.vlm.fme.nl
www.ecn.nl
www.biobasedeconomy.nl

Transport and Logistics

Key aspects and strengths

The country hosts over 19 million square metres of distribution centres. This equals
The Netherlands: connecting Europe to the world
The Netherlands plays a key role in our globalised economy, by connecting producers and
consumers worldwide. Our success is based on an alignment of cutting-edge infrastructure and
world-class service providers, and our coastal location at the heart of Europe. Exemplary for our
position are the Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest port by far and the worlds fourth-largest, and
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a major European cargo and passenger hub. Both are supported by
world-class logistics service providers and an extensive network of road, rail, waterways and
pipelines. This powerful combination has allowed us to become the Gateway to Europe, accounting

transhipment, industrial processing and auxiliary services, as well as transport,

packing, warehousing and distribution.

use of IT to deliver optimised supply chain solutions, for example in time-critical areas like food and

Port of Amsterdam and the private sector aim to turn Amsterdam into the fastest and
most-reliable multimodal hub for Europe.

shipper. The Betuweroute, a dedicated double-track freight railway, enables fast

transport of containers and bulk goods from Rotterdam to Europe.
Europe can be reached in less than 24 hours.

logistics and silent logistics.

best airport in Europe (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol).

Business School ranked the Netherlands 2nd worldwide with regards to the quality of its
water transport infrastructure.
The Netherlands has the second-largest cooling and freezing storage capacity in Europe.
Some 34,000 seagoing vessels and 133,000 inland vessels call at the port of Rotterdam
every year.
Sources: Cap Gemini, Amsterdam Airport Area, Nederland Distributieland, TNO, Supply Chain Magazine, World Bank, IMD Business School, Eurostat,
Bureau Voorlichting Binnenvaart, Port of Rotterdam, AFSCA

A few websites

Source: Europe Container Terminals BV, Rotterdam

www.hidc.nl
www.tln.nl
www.knv.nl
www.hollandintermodal.com
www.portofrotterdam.com - Port of Rotterdam
www.portofamsterdam.com - Port of Amsterdam
www.schipholgroup.com - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Key aspects and strengths

Maritime Cluster
Innovation and craftsmanship powering the Dutch maritime cluster

Source: Scheepsbouw Nederland, Stichting Nederland Maritiem Land, The Yacht Report, Superyacht Intelligence

A few websites
Photo: Feadship

Key aspects and strengths

Water

integrated coastal development and river basin management. Experience in this

area, built up over the course of centuries, is in great demand worldwide. Dutch delta

Renowned Dutch water sector tackles a range of international water issues

Climate change, expanding economies, and urbanisation are putting the worlds delta populations
water. Addtionally, the level of re-cycling of industrial waste water is high, and the
to design and build storm surge barriers and levees, reclaim land through high-tech dredging and
maintenance and are pioneering climate adaptive construction, which allows houses to be built in

disciplinary approach that balances social, economic, environmental and engineering

needs. Dutch companies are involved in the sustainable development of low-lying
urban agglomerations such as Jakarta and Bangladesh, and coastal development in

At the same time, billions of people worldwide lack access to clean water and sanitary facilities.
with high levels of quality and service in an integrated cycle, with the focus on sustainable
economic development. Dutch companies are recognised specialists in the treatment of industrial
waste water and several consultancies are globally respected for their water treatment expertise.
Dutch academia and the private sector invest heavily in water-related R&D, which has resulted in
(MBR - small scale and high quality) and Anammox technology.

that align the interests and resources of government, business and research partners.

focuses on international cooperation and the creation of water networks. Committed

to a better approach to international water management, the Dutch government has
signed bilateral agreements to advance integrated water management in countries
across the globe.

Source: WEX (EIM)

A few websites

Source: www.istockphoto.com

www.nwp.nl
www.aquanederland.nl - Association of the Dutch water treatment industry
(Dutch language only)
www.vewin.nl - Association of Dutch water supply companies (Dutch language only)
www.wetsus.nl - Research institute for sustainable water technology
www.kwrwater.nl
www.unesco-ihe.org

Unique Selling Points

Water technology

Clear, affordable water for people worldwide

The history and prosperity of the Dutch nation is inextricably linked with water. We reclaimed land
from the sea and two-thirds of our country would regularly flood if it werent for our dikes and surge
dams. The Dutch also excel at water technology, including water production, distribution, sewage
and wastewater treatment and sanitation. We supply, collect, clean and re-use water with high
levels of quality and service from an integrated perspective on sustainable economic development.
The drinking water sector in the Netherlands is publicly owned. Ten semi-public water companies
supply the drinking water. Municipal authorities manage the sewer system and 25 regional,
government-run water boards organise the treatment of municipal waste water. Numerous Dutch
companies are recognised specialists in the treatment of industrial waste water and several
consultancies are globally renowned for their water treatment expertise. Dutch academia and
the private sector invest heavily in water-related R&D, which has resulted in innovations in areas
like filtration.

Dutch innovations in water technology that improve access to clean and affordable drinking
water across the globe include membrane technology, anaerobic water purification (UASB),
membrane bioreactor (MBR - small scale & high quality) en Anammox technology.
Research institutes like Wetsus, KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Delft University of
Technology are recognised worldwide for their cutting-edge work in water technology.
A major part of the water technological research is organised through research programmes
which are jointly funded by end users (water suppliers, water authorities, industrial users).
The fact that the private drinking water sector collectively finances water technological
research, executed by KWR Watercycle Research Institute, is unique in the world. In general
governments finance this research.
There is strong institutional support and active public-private cooperation (e.g. with
consultative bodies such as the Netherlands Water Partnership) that focuses on international
cooperation. Committed to a better approach to international water management effort, the
Dutch government has signed bilateral agreements to advance integrated water management
across the globe.
The Netherlands has a long tradition of technological development in the field of sewage
systems and wastewater treatment. The first Dutch city was connected to a sewage system as
early as the 19th century, and today the Netherlands' sewerage system is well-maintained
and extensive. Also, the Dutch have been using innovative wastewater treatment techniques
as early as the 1970s in response to strict legislation. The percentage of companies that
invest in waste water solutions is above the industry average.
The level of re-use of industrial waste water is high, and the water quality is so high that it
meets the needs of key production processes in, for example, food and beverage industries.

Facts & figures

Approximately 1,500 companies are active in water technology in the Netherlands. The
corresponding work force amounts to 51,000 FTE.
The Netherlands spends 3.5 billion a year preparing drinking water, managing the sewer
system and treating waste water.
Half (51%) of Dutch water technology companies have developed new products and services
over the last three years. 19% own patents, 66% cooperate on innovation and 24% participate
in an international network in the field of water technology.
99.9% of Dutch households have access to clean drinking water, which is entirely
chlorine-free.

Source: WEX (EIM)

A few websites

Source: Delcan

www.nwp.nl - Netherlands Water Partnership

www.aquanederland.nl - Association of the Dutch water treatment industry
www.vewin.nl - Association of Dutch water supply companies
www.wetsus.nl - Research institute for sustainable water technology
www.kwrwater.nl - KWR Watercycle Research Institute

Key aspects and strengths

Infrastructure
development

social, economic, environmental and engineering needs. This concept, called Building with
Nature, is of considerable interest to countries with large delta populations.

expertise is very useful in other delta areas, in countries like Romania, China and India.

Infrastructure expertise for a growing world

particularly consulting on airport commercialization, (e.g. Delhi Indira Gandhi International

The Dutch have centuries of experience in building infrastructure in boggy delta areas. Dutch
engineers have mastered the art of foundation technology, particularly in extreme environments
and demanding applications like high-speed railways. Leading Dutch companies are particularly
strong in infrastructure design, engineering-consultancy and training, and the supply of technology
and machinery to international infrastructure projects. Dutch construction companies are involved
in complex engineering projects such as bridges and tunnels, and have specialised knowledge in
the area of airport construction. Dutch engineering pays particular attention to sustainability
issues, so that economic interests are balanced with ecological demands. The Dutch invest heavily
in innovation and R&D through public-private partnerships that align the interests and resources of
government, business and research partners.

of the Netherlands. Their expertise in underwater foundations and foundations in weak soil

The Dutch are currently exploring the use of roads as heat exchangers to generate energy.
dredging, and spatial planning. They are called upon to construct and maintain ports and

Netherlands, employing some 85,000 people. Total turnover in this sector amounted to

technology sector, in which approximately 50 companies are active.

Sources: CBS, Schiphol Group, Port of Rotterdam, Berenschot, Bouwend Nederland, SEOR, Rijkswaterstaat, Rabobank, ABN-AMRO.

A few websites

Source: Delcan

www.nabu.nl
www.nlingenieurs.nl - Dutch association of consulting engineers
www.hollandrailindustry.nl
in the rail sector
www.nat.nl
www.dutchaviation.nl
education organizations and consultancy companies in the aviation industry
www.rmg.nl Rotterdam Maritime Group - Consortium of Dutch companies in the
maritime and infrastructure sector that are located in the Rotterdam region
www.astrin.nl
www.nea.nl
infrastructure

Oil & gas

Key aspects and strengths

A global oil hub and European gas hub

Sources: Energising the Future, CBS, IRO

A few websites
Source: Energising the Future

Life Sciences Industry

Integrated Life Sciences Innovation
The Dutch life sciences industry is strong in the areas of human health (vaccines,
therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics), agriculture, food (dairy, functional foods,
neutraceuticals), the environment (water sanitation) and fermentation. This prominence is
due to its productive R&D base and integrated approach to innovation. The main focus is
on white biotechnology, with application in industrial production, and red biotechnology,
with applications in healthcare. Dutch companies are leaders in this area.
There are several public-private partnerships in which the private sector works closely
with academia and the government on applied R&D. The country also boasts a national
genomics programme worth 500 million euros until 2012, 8 universities in biomedical
sciences, 2 in agriculture and 1 in veterinary sciences. To facilitate valorisation, the Life
Sciences and Health (LSH) innovation programme will invest 60 million euros in some 100

Key aspects and strengths

There are several clusters of life sciences companies in the Netherlands, where expertise and
research is concentrated, including Leiden Health Valley, Amsterdam, Maastricht and Groningen.
forces with a neighbouring hospital to integrate R&D with clinical practice. The institutes
cutting-edge oncology research has been repeatedly featured in Science.
agrifood, life sciences, genomics, nutrition and health powered by 15,000 scientists.

with larger yields, better resistance to diseases and improved taste and design.

example of enabling technologies, diagnostic and therapeutic products and ingredients for

operations, including enabling technologies (in the form of patents and licences, or otherwise),
raw materials, reagents and other chemicals, and laboratory equipment. The main sources of

knowledge centres.
informatics, biopharmaceuticals (vaccines) and biomaterials (biomaterial coatings in
medical devices). A relatively large proportion of Dutch companies in this sector are active in
technology development and red biotechnology (in particular diagnosis and therapy).

A few websites

Source: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

www.niaba.nl
www.yels.net
www.nefarma.nl
www.plantum.nl - Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds
and young plants
www.lifescienceshealth.com - 1 billion innovation program
www.ctmm.nl
www.tipharma.com
into the drug discovery and development process
www.biomedicalmaterialsprogram.com
novel biomedical materials and their applications
www.groenegenetica.nl
cultivation industry
www.tifn.nl
www.netherlandsproteomicscentre.nl - Strategic collaboration of proteomics research institutes

High Tech Industries

The Netherlands: developing new technologies for the future
Holland's high-tech sector is a world leader in the development of new technologies and materials
for use in the communication systems of the future, the most economical and safest aircraft, hybrid
and electric cars, the large-scale generation and storage of solar energy, but also advanced medical
devices that can detect and treat diseases earlier and more effectively. Rapid innovation and
collaboration across the value chain is imperative in this highly competitive and highly complex
sector. The Netherlands is a frontrunner in both public-private research and 'open innovation', with
its Brainport region near Eindhoven named one of the world's smartest regions in 2011. It is an
excellent example of how companies, research institutions and government can collaborate to foster
knowledge and create innovative technology that sets standards across the globe.
The Netherlands is the world leader in designing, developing and making high tech equipment and
micro/nano components. Characteristic features are:
highly intelligent (embedded systems, software, sensors);
very precise (nano-electronics, high precision manufacturing), and
highly efficient (mechatronics).

Key aspects and strengts.....................................................................................................

Knowledge of materials and photonics/optics plays an increasingly important role. - ICT is
an integral part of the developments in this field. The high tech sector is thus an
important "enabler" for many other application areas such as energy, chemicals, food and
life sciences.
The high tech sector is making a vital contribution to social solutions in the areas of
health, mobility, sustainability and supply-chain security.
In the international market, the Dutch high tech sector is positioned as 'high value, high
mix and high complexity.' This is due to such factors as Holland's high labour costs
relative to low-wage countries, low public investment with Asia and the USA, and the small
Dutch home market.
The Dutch high tech sector generally focuses on niche markets, usually with small batch
sizes, and differentiates itself on technological excellence.
There is intensive collaboration between OEMs and specialized suppliers and knowledge
institutions.
The main strength of the Dutch IT sector lies in its ability to turn existing technologies into
innovative products and services that sell well (e.g. wristbands with RFID chips)
The Netherlands is one of the most wired countries in the world. After Denmark, it has
the highest penetration of household broadband connections in the world (source: OECD).
Some 90 per cent of households have a PC, 90 per cent have internet access and 77 per
cent have a broadband connection

Facts & figures........................................................................................................................

The high tech sector includes a number of closely related industries including: the
machinery and systems industries, automotive, aerospace and materials including steel.
In 2008 this sector generated a turnover of 74 billion euros, with a value of 20 billion
euros.
This industry is capital intensive, and collectively invest over 2.3 billion euros per year to
house research and development.
Some companies export more than 90% of their production, others invest up to 20% of their
turnover on R & D.
Much of the high tech sector is concentrated in the Southeast of the Netherlands (around
Eindhoven). But in other parts of the Netherlands, such as around Twente and Delft, there
are also strong concentrations of high-tech companies and universities.

A few websites........................................................................................................................
www.pointone.nl Point-One High Tech Network
www.holstcentre.nl Holst Centre
www.tno.nl TNO
www.htas.nl HTAS Automotive Network
www.spaceoffice.nl Netherlands Space Office
www.nanoextnl.nl NanoNext NL

Creative industries
Strong in connecting creativity to business
For centuries, Dutch creativity has inspired and instructed others. Geniuses like
Rembrandt and Van Gogh transformed the world around them. Todays masters are icons
like fashion designers Viktor & Rolf, architect Rem Koolhaas, illustrator Dick Bruna and DJ
Armin van Buuren or Tisto. They exemplify the strengths of Dutch design: pragmatic,
open-minded, conceptual, thinking outside of the box and adhering to the less is more
principle. Dutch design also fuses innovation, creativity and business. Dutch creativity
proves that creativity makes business more innovative, competitive and prosperous.
Today, Dutch creativity is changing architecture, design, music, TV, gaming and fashion.
Rotterdam is the city of architecture and urban design. Eindhoven, the technological heart
of the nation, is home to the Design Academy, declared the School of Cool by Time
Magazine. Delft hosts the largest and oldest academic program in industrial design.
Utrecht hosts the Gaming Institute and Amsterdam is a creative melting pot of
communication, interactive design and fashion. The ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in Arnhem
is known for its Fashion Biennale and internationally successful fashion designers.

Unique Selling Points

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Guggenheim Museum in Las Vegas, the Gazprom headquarters in Russia, Governors Island
in New York, the Dalian Football Stadium in China and the Seattle Public Library.
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furniture designs.
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projects. In addition to the architectonic design, the spatial design, sustainability aspects
and the social context are taken into account.
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Deal or No Deal, So You Wannabe a Popstar and Big Brother.
 9jiX]YZh^\cZghVgZhigdc\^ck^hjVaXdbbjc^XVi^dc!eVgi^XjaVgan^ceVX`V\^c\YZh^\cVcY
signposting at major airports like Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and New Yorks JFK.
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(2nd highest penetration level worldwide) and mobile technologies. The Netherlands
also has one of the most active online game markets in Europe, accounting for 35% of
total spending.
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Facts & figures

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(d[i]ZidiVaZbeadnbZci#>c'%%-!i]ZVYYZYkVajZlVhZhi^bViZYVi&+#.W^aa^dc
euro. This is over 3% of GDP. The annual export value is estimated at 7 billion US$,
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in the commercial services industry.
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companies affiliated with Modint, the largest industry organization in the fashion sector
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 I]ZCZi]ZgaVcYh^hi]Z'nd largest exporter of television formats in the world.
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^c'%%,VbdjciZYid&(W^aa^dcZjgd#
Sources: UNCTAD, CBS, Buma Cultuur

A few websites










 ww.bno.nl - Trade association of Dutch designers

w
www.premsela.org - Dutch Platform for Design and Fashion
www.bna.nl - Royal Institute of Dutch Architects
www.bni.nl - Association of Dutch Interior Architects
www.modint.nl - Trade association for fashion, interior design, carpets and textiles
www.dutchfashionfoundation.com - Dutch Fashion Foundation
www.dutchdfa.nl - Dutch Design Fashion Architecture programme
www.bumacultuur.nl - Foundation for the promotion and support of Dutch music copyright
www.dutchgamesassociation.nl - Dutch Games Association

Automotive Industry

Key aspects and strengths

Integrated cooperation, through innovation programmes of suppliers, producers,
educational and technical institutes and the government. The High-Tech Automotive

Specialised suppliers and niche producers

The Netherlands is home to major truck producers as well as niche trucks-manufacturers, bus
producers and personal car manufacturers and designers. For sports car fans, Dutch companies
produce a limited number of high-end niche market sports cars which are exported all over the
up the supply chain. Because of the limited size of the Dutch home market, automotive suppliers in
the Netherlands have to optimize their production and processes to live up to the demands of
internationally operating original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Dutch automotive companies

a strong global market position. Because they are located in a small geographic area
these suppliers can easily innovate and cooperate with each other and R&D institutes.
navigation systems.
international automotive groups, contributing to their success. Nearly every car in the
world has at least one Dutch component.

Advanced and innovative institutes that are sources of knowledge, such as the Technical University
of Eindhoven, add to Holland's strength as a competitor in this sector. The current global recession
working at top design positions with automotive companies all over the world.
manufacturers of full electric vehicles and light commercial vehicles.
Also for automotive manufacturers and suppliers the Netherlands is an interesting
location. The country has a neutral position towards bringing new players into the

and other automotive companies.

special purpose vehicles, parts of trailers and airbags.

and engines.
Sources: CBS, SEOR, EIM, SenterNovem, Htas, FIER Automotive, ACEA/European Automobile Industry Report 2010-

A few websites
www.atcentre.nl - Automotive Technology Centre - public-private automotive cluster
organisation
www.nevat.nl - OEM sector association Holland Automotive, division of NEVAT
www.htas.nl
www.raivereniging.nl - Dutch trade association for the mobility industry
www.automotive-industry.nl - General Dutch automotive industry portal and database
www.htacampus.nl - High Tech Automotive Campus