|
|
 |
Business
Business Profile
| Amsterdam likes to see itself as being at the heart of Europe and its location does give it easy access to a number of major European markets. European Cities Monitor recognised the Dutch capital as one of the top five business locations in Europe in 2002.
The country has suffered as a whole during the global downturn but has not yet endured problems on anything approaching the scale of Germany’s predicament, despite its close economic ties with this neighbour. In fact, Germany is the Netherlands’ biggest trading partner, with 25% of import and export trade, while other major players include Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the UK. On average, approximately 70–100 foreign companies set up in the Netherlands every year. They are attracted by Amsterdam’s prime position within Europe, with excellent international connections from the ever-expanding Schiphol airport and Amsterdam port, a strong infrastructure, a multilingual workforce, a stable political and economic climate and business-friendly policies.
Major companies with a presence in Amsterdam include ABM Amro Bank, Phillips and Shell, with IBM, Sony and Canon all having their European headquarters in the city. It is fitting in a city that was home to the world’s first ever public stock exchange that finance is a major part of the business world, with the financial sector employing approximately 8% of Amsterdam’s workforce and some 70 banks having a presence in the city. After finance, fashion and flowers are key sectors. Of all Amsterdam’s exports, tulips are probably the most famous. In terms of exports, fresh flowers are a large market and Heineken is the largest export brewery in the world, with sales to 150 countries. Heineken was one of the few major European breweries to offer positive results for 2002. Over the last 20 years, Amsterdam has also emerged as a strong base in advanced technological industries, computing, telecommunications and biotechnology.
One key industry currently facing difficulties is tourism, with both the lucrative North American and Japanese markets suffering due to the instability in the Middle East. Unemployment levels have risen slightly in Amsterdam recently, with city-wide unemployment running at a rate of 5.7% by the end of 2002, still lower than the national average of 6.9%.
The facilities provided for businesses in Amsterdam are extensive. The Amsterdam RAI International Exhibition & Congress Center, Europaplein 8 (tel: (020) 549 1212; fax: (020) 646 4469; e-mail: mail@rai.nl; website: www.rai.nl), is one of the country’s largest and one of the world’s leading convention centres. Business activity in Amsterdam is largely focused around the city centre, although also important are the port area and the new business parks on the city fringes. Commercial information is available from the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (tel: (020) 531 4000; fax: (020) 531 4699; e-mail: post@amsterdam.kvk.nl; website: www.kvk.nl) and from Amsterdam Promotion Foundation (website: www.amsterdampromotion.nl).
Business Etiquette
Business hours are Monday to Friday 0900–1700. The Dutch pride themselves on their efficient use of time, so punctuality is important. Dutch business associates should be addressed by their full name and title and not by their first name, unless they are much younger or have indicated that it is all right to do so. Most Dutch executives speak English, so it is not essential to have business cards translated into Dutch. However, it is important to have promotional material and instruction manuals translated into Dutch. It is a good idea for visiting businesspeople to put the date their company was founded (if it was a long time ago) and university degree details on their cards, as the Dutch respect history and education.
While the Dutch wear suits for business meetings, smart-casual wear is worn on social occasions. Business lunches and appointments in the evening are rare. If invited to the home of an associate, guests should bring flowers. If given a present, it is customary to unwrap it immediately.
Business Services
Business Contacts: Kamer van Koophandel Amsterdam
(Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Amsterdam)
De Ruyterkade 5, PO Box 2852, 1000 CW Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 531 4000. Fax: (020) 531 4799.
E-mail: post@amsterdam.kvk.nl
Website: www.kvk.nl
The Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (UK)
‘The Dutch House’, 307 High Holborn, London WC1V 7LS
Tel: (020) 7405 1358. Fax: (020) 7405 1689.
E-mail: nbcc@btinternet.com
Website: www.nbcc.demon.co.uk
Nederlandse Kamer van Koophandel for North America (USA)
Suite 1420, 1 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020
Tel: (212) 265 6460. Fax: (212) 265 6402.
E-mail: ncocny@compuserve.com
Website: www.netherlands.org
The Economic and Commercial Affairs department of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Canada (as well as the Consulates-General in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver) can provide information on commercial matters:
Royal Netherlands Embassy (Canada)
Suite 2020, 350 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4
Tel: (613) 237 5030. Fax: (613) 237 6471.
E-mail: nlgovecon@sympatico.ca
Website: www.netherlandsembassy-ottawa.org
Australian Netherlands Chamber of Commerce Inc (Australia)
Interim address: Level 7, 80 Arthur Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060
Tel: (02) 9929 9610. Fax: (02) 9955 7521.
E-mail: ancoc@ancoc.com.au
Website: www.ancoc.com.au
Convention and meeting planners
Amsterdam Congres Bureau
PO Box 3901, 1001 AS Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 551 2570. Fax: (020) 551 2575.
E-mail: acb@amsterdamcongress.nl
Website: www.amsterdamcongress.nl
Offers free, independent advice on behalf of the city and conference-related industries.
Eurocongres Conference Management
Jan van Goyenkade 11, 1075 HP Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 679 3411. Fax: (020) 673 7306.
E-mail: info@eurocongres.com
Website: www.eurocongres.com
Convention and meeting venue
Amsterdam RAI Congres Centre
PO Box 77777, 1070 GZ Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 549 1212. Fax: (020) 646 4469.
Website: www.rai.nl
Offers 22 conference rooms, a total of 5000 seats and a main auditorium, which can accommodate 1750.
Office equipment hire
Mini Office
Singel 417, 1012 WP Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 625 8455. Fax: (020) 638 7894.
Ruad H&S Audiovisuel Centrum BV
Kuiperweg 33, 1101 AE Amsterdam Zuid-Oost
Tel: (020) 691 7000. Fax: (020) 697 4065.
E-mail: info@ruad.nl
Website: www.ruad.nl
Audiovisual Conference Service
Amsterdam RAI, Europaplein, 1078 GZ Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 549 1236. Fax: (020) 549 1206.
E-mail: info@acsamsterdam.nl
Website: www.acsamsterdam.nl
Microrental
Van der Veerelaan 31, 1081 PZ Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 641 5026. Fax: (020) 645 8016.
E-mail: huur@microrental.nl
Website: www.microrental.nl
Computer hire, for use on the premises.
Secretarial service
Regus
Stravinskylaan 3051, 1077 ZX Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 301 2200. Fax: (020) 301 2212.
E-mail: atieun.sarfesadesk@regus.nl
Website: www.regus.nl
Translation services
Amstelveen Translation Agency
Ouderkerkerlaan 50, PO Box 2263, 1180 E6 Amstelveen
Tel: (020) 645 6610. Fax: (020) 647 4542.
E-mail: avb@avb.nl
Congrestolken
Prinsengracht 993, 1017 KM Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 625 2535. Fax: (020) 626 5642.
E-mail: interpreters@conferenceinterpreters.com
Website: www.conferenceinterpreters.com
Unusual conference venues
Conferences, seminars and meetings can be held in a wide variety of locations, including Amsterdam ArenA (the home stadium of Ajax), De Rode Hoed (a former church converted into five meeting rooms) and the Kapitein Kok (an historic Dutch paddle wheel steamer).
|
|
