Perched on the shores of the North Sea and with a premier strategic location within Continental Europe, The Netherlands, otherwise known as Holland, is a dynamic and outward-looking place with a vibrant and robust economy. The freight forwarding network in The Netherlands has developed so as to help support its overseas trade. The combination of The Netherlands’ closeness, its open approach to trade and its flexible freight shipping choices mean that the Netherlands presents a good export opportunity for many companies in the UK.

Holland receives more than 2/3rds of its GDP from merchandise trade. Its top export markets are Germany with twenty five per cent, Belgium with twelve per cent and the United Kingdom and France, both of which amount to 9 %. Leading importer countries are Germany (17%), Belgium (9%), China (nine per cent) and the United States (eight percent). So Germany is clearly the most important trading partner of The Netherlands and freight transport connections are especially well developed and efficient between these two countries.

However, increasingly, more and more businesses in the UK are seeking to improve their volumes of export to Holland.

Holland has the sixteenth largest economy worldwide, and ranks 10th in per capita GDP. Although The Netherlands’s economy was dented by the global slowdown in 2008 and 2009, it has begun to bounce back now. Unemployment in Holland is at only three point three percent (June 2009) Cialis Professional – the lowest percentage of all EU members. On the Index of Economic Freedom, Netherlands is the 13th most free market capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed countries. So the state of the economy is generally favourable and shipping companies indicate that business is now building again after a difficult couple of years.

The Netherlands’ position gives it prime access to markets in the United Kingdom and Germany, with the port of Rotterdam being the biggest sea port in Europe and the centre for freight transport. The most important parts of the economy in The Netherlands are international trade, banking and transport. Holland has successfully addressed the problem of public finances and stagnating job growth long before any of its European partners began to look seriously at these matters. Partly as a result of this, the Netherlands moved up from the 11th position in the Global Competitiveness Index to the ninth position in 2007. Again, this puts it in prime position in respect of opportunities for freight forwarding and export.

Holland is one of the foremost trading countries in the European Continent, with a robust freight forwarding infrastructure which is geared up to handling the substantial volume of imports and exports. It is one of Europe’s most vibrant and forward-looking centres of trade and industry with an international orientation at the centre of its approach.

Holland has a population of almost 17 m people, who have generally high levels of education, who represent an attractive and prosperous market for many export industries. The freight transport industry has organised to cater for the specialist needs of industry segments where special considerations with regard to freight shipping need to be met.

Holland is the 5th most important export market for the UK, worth sixteen point 6 billion pounds sterling in 2006. The UK is also the 2nd most important inward investor in the country.

Holland is one of the EU’s most dynamic centres of commerce and home to one of the most open and internationally oriented economies worldwide. It is a highly competitive, growing market with opportunities for trade in all sectors, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

There is no argument that Holland represents great possibilities for exporters in the UK. Barriers to market entry are not high and the transparent legal framework, up to date financial services system and excellent freight transport combine to make the market an alluring place for UK companies. Geographically close to the UK with very good international freight transport links to main and regional UK airports, The Netherlands is an straight forward and cost effective country in which to carry out market exploration.

The Netherlands’s favourable position gives it a significant role as a key transportation hub, at the focal point of freight transport and freight services in Europe. The Netherlands re-exports between sixty to seventy per cent of its imports to the rest of Europe and further afield, so it also represents a useful springboard into other European economies.

United Kingdom exports to The Netherlands are predominately in the following areas:

Petroleum and gas products
Medical and pharmaceutical products
Chemical products
Telecommunications
Office equipment

It is easy to see why United Kingdom companies are keen on doing business with the Netherlands. Over seventy five percent of the Dutch understand English and this makes it still easier to carry out profitable trade with Holland as well as to ensure that all the relevant issues relating to international freight are successfully negotiated by your freight company or shipping company.

Author Bio: Stephen Willis is Managing Director of R W Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating worldwide freight forwarding services including specialist freight services to and from Holland

Category: Business
Keywords: Freight services,shipping companies,international freight, freight transport, freight forwarding, freight company, shipping company