The Netherlands has a prosperous economy with a good reputation for stable industrial relations, a reasonably high level of unemployment and moderate inflation. The Dutch economy depends heavily on foreign trade: nowadays more than half of the Dutch GDP comes from its international trade. The country has a distributing role: a large fraction of the imported goods are re-exported, with only minimal further processing or none at all.
The Netherlands has a strategic location to serve and service markets worldwide. Several Asian-based multinationals have already set up regional branches in the Netherlands.
Principal sectors
Services such as transportation, distribution and logistics are the most profitable sectors. Other key sectors are the metalworking, oil refining, chemical and food processing industries.
The country is an ideal base for companies seeking to take advantage of modern technology. It is one of the most wired countries in the world and a dynamic force in e-commerce, communications and outsourcing.
Tax bands
The applicable maximum corporate income tax rate for both Dutch resident corporations as well as Dutch permanent establishments is 31.5%.
Currently, the Dutch standard rate of VAT is 19%. This rate applies to most goods and services. There is also a lower rate of 6%, which applies principally to food, books and newspapers, medicine, passenger transport and hotel accommodation.
The main Dutch business institutions:
NEW OWNER
Since 2008 NHOZ.COM has a new owner:Elma multimedia,www.elma.nl,nhoz@elma.nl
