Netherlands
General
Information & Brief Economic Summary
Standards
US Government
Contacts in The Netherlands
Dutch Government
Contacts
Trade Associations
and Other Key Contacts
Trade Event
Schedule
General Information & Brief
Economic Summary
Dutch economic policy is geared chiefly toward sustained and environmentally sustainable economic growth and development by way of fiscal consolidation, labor and product market reforms, economic restructuring, energy conservation, environmental protection, regional development, and other national goals. The Netherlands, which derives more than sixty percent of GDP from merchandise and services trade, continue to have a strongly positive balance of trade. Since there are no significant trade or investment barriers, the Netherlands remains a receptive market for U.S. exports and an important investment partner. The Netherlands is the eighth largest U.S. export market, as well as the fourth largest direct investor in the United States.
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Standards
As a member of the EU, the Netherlands applies the product standards and certification approval process developed by the Community. With the development of a single product standard, U.S. exporters may find that it is easier to comply with one EU-wide standard rather than having to meet several individual national standards when exporting to Europe. U.S. Firms exporting to Europe are still confronted with both national and EU product standards. Key product areas are being regulated at the Union level for conformance to mandatory requirement, the manufacturer or a representative must place a CE mark on all regulated products before they can be sold on the EU market. The CE mark replaces all national safety marks for regulated products.
Contact the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Phone: (301) 975-4038 for updated information from the EU or to obtain a complete list of directives that could affect product sales to the Netherlands or another EU country, call the ITA Office of European Union Affairs, Phone: (202) 482-5276. Other valuable sources of information with regard to foreign standards include the American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, Phone: (212) 354-3300, the Department of Commerce's National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161, Phone: (703) 557-4733.
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U.S Government Contacts in The
Netherlands
U.S. Embassy – The Hague
Ambassador: Roland E. Arnall
DCM: Michael Gallagher
Consul General: Marjorie Ames
Commercial Counselor: Maria Andrews
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 310 2209
Fax: (31) 70 310 9232
Website: http://www.usembassy.nl
U.S. Commercial Service
Senior commercial Officer: Maria Andrews
American Embassy
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 310 2417
Fax: (31) 70 363 2985
Email: the.hague.office.box@mail.doc.gov
Web site: http://www.buyusa.nl
APO address:
American Embassy
USCS The Hague
Unit 6707 - Box 039
APO AE 09715
American Consulate General
American Citizens Services
Consul General: Marjorie Ames
Museumplein 19 1071 DJ Amsterdam
Phone: (31) 20 575 5309
Fax: (31) 20 575 5310
Website: http://www.usembassy.nl
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Dutch Government
Contacts
Royal Netherlands Embassy
4200 Linnean Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 274 2727
Fax: (202) 966 0728
Email: holland@netherlands-embassy.org
Web site: http://www.netherlands-embassy.org
Ministry of Economic Affairs
P.O. Box 20101
2500 EC The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 379 7169
Fax: (31) 70 379 8074
Web site: http://www.ez.nl/content.jsp?objectid=140727
Ministry of Transport
P.O. Box 20901
2500 EX The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 351 6171
Fax: (31) 70 351 7895
Web site: http://www.verkeerenwaterstaat.nl/?lc=uk
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA)
P.O. Box 20101
2500 EC The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 379 8818
Fax: (31) 70 379 6322
Netherlands Customs
P.O. Box 4486
6401 CZ Heerlen
Phone: (31) 45 574 2700
Fax: (31) 45 571 6415
Web site: http://www.douane.nl/english/
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Trade Associations and Other Key
Contacts
American Chamber of Commerce
WTC D-TOWER, 6th Floor
Schiphol Boulevard 171
1118 BG Luchthaven Schiphol
Phone: (31) 20 7951840
Fax: (31) 20 7951850
E-mail: office@amcham.nl
Web site: http://www.amcham.nl
Holland International Distribution Council
P.O. Box 85599
2508 CG The Hague
Phone: (31) 70 346 7272
Fax: (31) 70 360 3698
Trade association for transport, logistics, and warehousing companies.
Vereniging Federatie Het Instrument
P.O. Box 2099
3800 CB Amersfoort
Phone: (31) 33 465 7507
Fax: (31) 33 461 6638
Web site: http://www.fhi.nl
Trade association for suppliers of instrumentation for industrial electronics, automation, laboratories and medical technology.
FME/CWM Netherlands Association of Manufacturers of Electronic Equipment
P.O. Box 190
2700 AD Zoetermeer
Phone: (31) 79 353 1355
Fax: (31) 79 353 1365 Web site: http://www.fme.nl
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Trade Event
Schedule
Logistica 2011
Brabanthallen, 's-Hertogenbosch
Utrecht, Netherlands
Tel: 073 – 629 39 11
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Source: US Department of Commerce.
*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or
publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The
Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
the information contained herein. The listing of information
here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular
information by the Material Handling Industry.