The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a densely populated country with a small, open economy, heavily dependent on services and trade. For example, in 2014 some 86 per cent of its 16.8 million inhabitants lived in urban areas. With a GDP per capita of USD 47,617 in 2013, it is a relatively rich country. Though the country is home to industrial multinational enterprises like Philips, Shell, Unilever, Akzo Nobel and Heineken, manufacturing has remained comparatively limited. In 2012, the share of employment in the services sector was at 81.7 per cent, the second highest in the EU (Statistical Appendix, Table A.3B). Four trade-related clusters have latterly developed into economic powerhouses: commercial services; chemicals; food industry (agri-business) and the ‘gateways’ to Europe where Rotterdam seaport and Schiphol airport connect with the important transport and logistics sector. The country is dependent on exports. The share of its value added created through production for exports grew slowly during the period 1995–2011 and reached 38 per cent in 2011 which, except for Belgium, was considerably higher than that of other EU countries (CBS 2013, 56).