Netherlands

Brief Fact File

Capital	Amsterdam
Currency	Euro (EUR)
Language(s)	Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Local time	GMT + 01:00
Telephone code	31
Major cities	Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven

Economy
Netherland enjoys a prosperous and open economy depending mostly on foreign trade. It has stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation. The country is one of the leading European nation which attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The top three export partners of Netherland are Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The top three import partners are Germany, Belgium and the United States.

Major Exports:

• Machinery And Equipment
  
• Chemicals
  
• Fuels
  
• Foodstuffs

Major Imports:

• Machinery And Transport Equipment
  
• Chemicals
  
• Fuels
  
• Foodstuffs
  
• Clothing

Business Practices

Business Dress

• Business dress is conservative, but it depends upon the profession.
  
• In the financial industries, most businessmen wear dark suits, muted ties, and white shirts; women dress in dark suits and white blouses.
  
• Some professions allow very informal dress. Quite a few executives save their ties and jackets for outside the office.
  
• Dutch men remove their jackets when working.
  
• In certain industries, the higher ranked a person are more informal. For example, in some offices, the sales clerks are in suits and the boss in jeans and a sweater.

Communication Guidelines

• Do not get involved in a political discussion if one is not well informed.
  
• Contacts are very important, so remember the family name of every possible person who can be a good reference.
  
• Meaningful conversation is appreciated there, after business is finished, as a way to become closer.
  
• The topics they welcome are home country or city, politcs and one's flight and accomodation.
  
• The topics to avoid are boasting one's income and possessions, criticizing the Dutch Royal Family and religion.

Business Hour
Business hours differ between banks. Most banks are open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, banks are closed.

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD)
Juliana van Stolberglaan 148
2595 CL Den Haag
P.O.Box 20105
2500 EC Den Haag
Netherlands
Website: http://www.hollandtrade.com

Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA)
Website: http://www.nfia.nl

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
Buitenrustweg
2, 2517 KD The Hague
Tel.: +(31)-(70)-3469771 (General)
         +(31)-(70)-4273812 (Consular Section)
Fax: +(31)-(70)-3617072, 3462594
Website: http://www.indianembassy.nl

Visiting this Country

Business Visa Rules for Netherlands

Documents Required

• One fully completed and signed application form.
  
• One recent passport size photograph.
  
• Passport having validity for 3 months after returning; one blank page for the visa-sticker.
  
• Ticket reservation for return travel; upon delivery of the visa the actual ticket has to be shown; when travelling by car the (green) insurance papers have to be shown; if you are not the owner of the car -the owner's written permission in your favour to use- and a photocopy of the passport of the owner.
  
• Health insurance valid for the entire duration of the requested stay.
  
• Hotel/trip reservation(s).
  
• Sufficient means of support, like bank statement(s) (the latest not older than 1 month), travellercheques or major credit card(s); cash is accepted as means of support.
  
• Evidence of your occupation; original trade license or official letter on letter headed paper from your employer.
  
• Photocopies of the relevant pages of the passport as well as photocopies of all the above documents mentioned.
  
• Original official invitation from the company in Netherlands on letter headed paper.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Local Name	Detail
New Year's Day	January 1	Nieuwjaar	The Dutch celebrate two days of Easter (on Sunday and the subsequent Monday).
Easter	March/April	Pasen
Queen's day	April 30	Koninginnedag
Remembrance of the dead	May 4	Dodenherdenking
Liberation day	May 5	Bevrijdingsdag
Ascension Day	40 days after Easter	Hemelvaartsdag
Pentecost	7 weeks after Easter	Pinksteren	The Dutch celebrate two days of Pentecost (on Sunday and the subsequent Monday).
Saint Nicholas's Eve	December 5	Sinterklaas
Christmas	December 25, December 26	Kerstmis	The Dutch celebrate two days of Christmas: Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag.

Travel Tips

• Hotels and restaurants add 15% service and VAT charges to the bill. However, it is customery to leave a small change while paying the bill. Porters, doormen and taxi drivers expect tips. The hairdressers and barbers include service prices in their bill.
  
• There is no departure tax.
  
• Without incurring customs duty, a passenger can carry 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco. He/she can also carry 11 of liquor or 21 of sparkling wine or liqueur wines and 21 of non-sparkling wine. Apart from this, also 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette, 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract, 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract.
  
• Make two photocopies of the passport, credit cards and other valuables. Leave one at home and pack other in your luggage, separate from the original.