| Positioned on the shores of the North Sea and with | | | | the considerable volume of imports and exports. It is |
| an important strategic location within Europe, The | | | | one of Europe's most vital and progressive centres |
| Netherlands, otherwise known as Holland, is a | | | | of trade and industry with an international orientation |
| dynamic and outward-looking place with a vigorous | | | | at the heart of its approach. |
| and robust economy. The freight forwarding | | | | The Netherlands has a population of nearly 17 million |
| infrastructure in Holland has developed so as to help | | | | people, who have generally high levels of education, |
| underpin its overseas trading. The combination of The | | | | who represent an important and affluent market for |
| Netherlands' closeness, its open approach to trade | | | | many export sectors. The freight transport industry |
| and its excellent freight transport options mean that | | | | has geared up to meet the specialist needs of |
| the Netherlands presents a good export option for a | | | | industry segments where specific considerations with |
| lot of businesses in the UK.the Netherlands achieves | | | | regard to freight forwarding need to be addressed. |
| more than 2/3rds of its Gross Domestic Product | | | | Holland is the fifth most important export market for |
| from merchandise trade. Its top export markets are | | | | the United Kingdom, worth sixteen point 6 billion |
| Germany with twenty five per cent, Belgium with | | | | pounds sterling in 2006. The UK is also the 2nd |
| 12% and the UK and France, both of which amount | | | | biggest inward investor in the country. |
| to 9 %. Leading importer countries are Germany | | | | Holland is one of the European Union's most dynamic |
| (seventeen per cent), Belgium (nine percent), China | | | | centres of commerce and represents the most open |
| (nine per cent) and the United States (8%). So | | | | and internationally oriented economies worldwide. It is |
| Germany is clearly the most important trading partner | | | | a highly competitive, growing market with |
| of Holland and freight transport links are especially | | | | opportunities for trade in all sectors, especially for |
| strong and efficient between these two countries. | | | | small and medium-sized businesses. |
| However, increasingly, a rising number of businesses | | | | There is no question that The Netherlands represents |
| in the United Kingdom are keen to increase their level | | | | great possibilities for exporters in the UK. Barriers to |
| of export trade to Holland. | | | | market entry are low and the transparent legal |
| Holland has the sixteenth biggest economy | | | | framework, up to date financial services system and |
| worldwide, and ranks tenth in Gross Domestic | | | | excellent freight transport combine to make the |
| Product per head of population. Although Holland's | | | | market an attractive target for UK companies. |
| economy was dented by the global slowdown in | | | | Geographically close to the UK with very good |
| 2008 and 2009, it has begun to overcome this now. | | | | international freight transport links to main and |
| Unemployment in The Netherlands is at only three | | | | regional UK airports, The Netherlands is an straight |
| point three percent (June 2009) - the lowest | | | | forward and cost effective country in which to carry |
| percentage of all EU members. On the Index of | | | | out market exploration. |
| Economic Freedom, Netherlands is the 13th most free | | | | Holland's favourable location gives it a significant role |
| market capitalist economy out of 157 surveyed | | | | as a key transportation hub, at the focal point of |
| countries. So the state of the economy is generally | | | | freight transport and services in Europe. The |
| good and freight forwarders companies indicate that | | | | Netherlands re-exports between sixty to |
| trade is now increasing again after a difficult two | | | | seventy{%|per cent} of its imports to the rest of |
| years. | | | | Europe and beyond, so it also represents a useful |
| The Netherlands' location gives it convenient access | | | | entry point into other European markets. |
| to markets in the United Kingdom and Germany, with | | | | UK exports to Holland are mostly in the following |
| the port of Rotterdam being the largest port in | | | | areas: |
| Europe and the focal point for shipping. The most | | | | Petroleum and gas products |
| important parts of the economy in Holland are | | | | Medical and pharmaceutical products |
| international trade, banking and transportation. The | | | | Chemical products |
| Netherlands successfully solved the problem of public | | | | Telecommunications |
| finances and stagnating job growth long before any | | | | Office equipment |
| of its European colleagues began to look seriously at | | | | It is easy to understand why UK organisations are |
| these matters. Partly as a result of this, Holland | | | | keen on doing business with the Netherlands. Over |
| moved up from the eleventh position in the Global | | | | seventy five percent of the Dutch understand English |
| Competitiveness Index to the 9th position in 2007. | | | | and this makes it still easier to carry out profitable |
| Again, this puts it in an enviable position in respect of | | | | trade with Holland as well as to ensure that all the |
| opportunities for freight shipping and export. | | | | relevant issues relating to international shipping are |
| The Netherlands are one of the most important | | | | successfully negotiated by your freight company or |
| trading countries in Europe, with a robust freight | | | | shipping company. |
| forwarding infrastructure that is organised to handling | | | | |