Editing Economy of the Netherlands

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=April 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2014}}
}}
{{Infobox economy
| country = the Netherlands
| image = Zuidas Panorama (By Guido van der Heijden).jpg
| image_size = 310px
| caption = [[Zuidas]] in [[Amsterdam]]
| currency = [[Euro]] (EUR, €)
| fixed exchange = 
| year = Calendar year
| organs = [[European Union|EU]], [[WTO]] and [[OECD]]
| group = {{plainlist|
*[[Developed country|Advanced economy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/groups-and-aggregates |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org}}</ref>
*[[World Bank high-income economy|High-income economy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups |title=World Bank Country and Lending Groups |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=datahelpdesk.worldbank.org |access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref>}}
| population = 18,345,683 (30 november 2024)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/visualisations/dashboard-population/population-counter |title=Population counter }}</ref>
| gdp = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $1.273 trillion (nominal; {{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=138,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook database: October 2024|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]|website=imf.org}}</ref>
*{{increase}} $1.511 trillion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]; {{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>}}
| gdp rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|18th (nominal, 2025)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|28th (PPP, 2024)]]}}
| growth = {{plainlist| 
*{{increase}} 0.1%&nbsp;({{abbr|2023e|2023 estimate}})<ref name="IMF_Growth">{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2025/01/17/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2025|title=Global Growth: Divergent and Uncertain|work=[[International Monetary Fund]]|date=2 February 2025}}</ref>
*{{increase}} 0.9%&nbsp;({{abbr|2024e|2024 estimate}})<ref name="IMF_Growth"/>
*{{increase}} 1.6%&nbsp;({{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMF_Growth"/>
*{{increase}} 1.8%&nbsp;({{abbr|2026f|2026 forecast}})<ref name="IMF_Growth"/>
}}
| per capita = {{plainlist|
*{{increase}} $70,606 (nominal, {{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>
*{{increase}} $83,823 (PPP, {{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>}}
| per capita rank = {{plainlist|
*[[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|10th (nominal, 2024)]]
*[[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|10th (PPP, 2024)]]}}
| cpi = 79 out of 100 points (2023)<ref name="ti_2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023 |date=30 January 2024 |title=Corruption Perceptions Index |website=[[Transparency International]] |access-date=15 July 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130062042/https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> ([[Corruption Perceptions Index#Ranking over Time|8th]])
| sectors = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 1.6%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 17.9%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 80.2%
*(2017 est.)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>}}
| components = 
| inflation = {{plainlist|
*4.1% (2023)<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>
*3.2% ({{abbr|2024f|2024 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>
*2.3% ({{abbr|2025f|2025 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>
*2.0% ({{abbr|2026f|2026 forecast}})<ref name="IMFWEONL"/>
}}
| poverty = {{plainlist|
*5% (2017 est.)<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://digitaal.scp.nl/armoedeinkaart2016/verwachte_armoede_in_2015-2017/|title=Verwachte armoede in 2015–2017|first1=Wildeboer Schut, Jean|last1=Marie|first2=Hoff|last2=Stella|date=2 March 2017|journal=Armoede in Kaart|volume=2016|issue=2016|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
*17.0% at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE 2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tepsr_lm410/default/table?lang=en |title=People at risk of poverty or social exclusion |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat}}</ref>}}
| gini = 26.4 {{color|green|low}} (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat}}</ref>
| hdi = {{plainlist|
* 0.946 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} (2022)<ref name="hdi">{{cite web |url=https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/NLD |title=Human Development Index (HDI) |publisher=[[Human Development Report|HDRO (Human Development Report Office)]] [[United Nations Development Programme]] |website=hdr.undp.org |access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref> ([[List of countries by Human Development Index|10th]])
* 0.885 {{color|darkgreen|very high}} [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|IHDI]] (2022, [[List of countries by inequality-adjusted HDI|7th]])<ref name="hdi"/>}}
| labor = {{plainlist|
* 9,181,373 (2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=NL&most_recent_value_desc=true |title=Labor force, total - Netherlands |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref>
*83.5% employment rate (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Employment_-_annual_statistics |title=Employment rate by sex, age group 20-64 |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>}}
| occupations = {{plainlist|
*[[Primary sector of the economy|agriculture]]: 1.2%
*[[Secondary sector of the economy|industry]]: 17.2%
*[[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]]: 81.6%
*(2017)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>}}
| unemployment = {{plainlist|
* 2.9% (October 2021)<ref name="cbs21">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2021/46/unemployment-down-to-pre-pandemic-level |title=Unemployment down to pre-pandemic level |date=18 November 2021 |publisher=[[CBS]] }}</ref>
*6.9% youth unemployment (October 2021; 15 to 24 year-olds)<ref name="cbs21" />}}
| average gross salary = [[List of European countries by average wage|€4,191 monthly]]
| average net salary = [[List of European countries by average wage|€3,145 monthly]]
| industries = [[Agriculture]], oil and natural gas,  [[metal]] and [[engineering|engineering product]]s, electronic [[machinery]] and [[electrical equipment|equipment]], [[chemical]]s, [[petroleum]], [[construction]], [[microelectronic]]s, [[fishing]]
| exports = $719.78 billion (2020)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
| export-goods = refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, machinery, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2022)
| export-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Germany}} 19%
*{{flag|Belgium}} 14%
*{{flag|France}} 11%
*{{flag|Italy}} 6%
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} 4%
*(2022)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
}}
| imports = $453.8 billion (2017)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
| import-goods = crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment, computers (2024)
| import-partners = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Germany}} 14%
*{{flag|China}} 12%
*{{flag|United States}} 9%
*{{flag|Belgium}} 9%
*{{flag|France}} 5%
*(2024)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
}}
| current account = $90.207 billion (2019)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
| FDI = {{plainlist|
* $5.499 trillion (2017)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>
*Abroad: $6.579 trillion (2017)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/>}}
| gross external debt = $4.345 trillion (2019)<ref name="CIAWFNL">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/ |title=The World Factbook |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |website=CIA.gov |access-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513115307/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/|archive-date=13 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
| debt = {{plainlist|
* 48.6% of GDP (2019)<ref name="1st Notif">{{cite web |title=Euro area and EU27 government deficit both at 0.6% of GDP|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10294648/2-22042020-AP-EN.pdf |website=ec.europa.eu/eurostat |publisher=Eurostat |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
* €394.630 billion (2019)<ref name="1st Notif"/>}}
| revenue = 43.6% of GDP (2019)<ref name="1st Notif"/>
| expenses = 41.9% of GDP (2019)<ref name="1st Notif"/>
| balance = {{plainlist|
*€14.0 billion surplus (2019)<ref name="1st Notif"/>
*+1.7% of GDP (2019)<ref name="1st Notif"/>}}
| aid = {{plainlist|
*€1.9 billion from [[European Structural and Investment Funds]] (2007–2013)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/country2009/nl_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225203037/https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/country2009/nl_en.pdf |archive-date=25 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*€1.72 billion from [[European Structural and Investment Funds]] (2014–2020)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/what/investment-policy/esif-country-factsheet/esi_funds_country_factsheet_nl_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420135423/https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/policy/what/investment-policy/esif-country-factsheet/esi_funds_country_factsheet_nl_en.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| credit = {{plainlist|
*[[Standard & Poor's]]:<ref>{{cite web |title= Sovereigns rating list |publisher=Standard & Poor's |url=http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratings/sovereigns/ratings-list/en/eu/?subSectorCode=39}}</ref>
*AAA (Domestic)
*AAA (Foreign)
*AAA (T&C Assessment)
*Outlook: Stable<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |title=How Fitch, Moody's and S&P rate each country's credit rating |date=15 April 2011 |first1=Simon |last1=Rogers |first2=Ami |last2=Sedghi |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/apr/30/credit-ratings-country-fitch-moodys-standard |access-date=31 May 2011}}</ref>
*[[Moody's]]:<ref name=guardian/>
*Aaa
*Outlook: Stable
*[[Fitch Group|Fitch]]:<ref name=guardian/>
*AAA
*Outlook: Stable
*Scope:<ref name=Scope>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoperatings.com/ratings-and-research/rating/EN/177853|title=Scope affirms the Netherlands' credit ratings at AAA with Stable Outlook|website=Scope Ratings|access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>
*AAA
*Outlook: Stable}}
| reserves = $54.016 billion (2021)<ref name="CIAWFNL"/> ([[List of countries by foreign-exchange reserves|41st]])
| spelling = Dutch
}}
[[File:2006Dutch exports.PNG|thumb|260px|Dutch exports in 2006]]
[[File:Labour productivity levels in europe.svg|thumb|260px|The [[Workforce productivity|labour productivity]] level of the Netherlands is one of highest in [[Europe]]. [[OECD]], 2012]]
[[File:Part-time employment rate in OECD.svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Part-time job|Part-time employment]] rate (%) in OECD countries.<ref name=OECDlf>{{Citation |publisher=OECD |date=2020 |doi=10.1787/23083387|isbn= 9789264687714|title= OECD Labour Force Statistics 2022 |url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/employment/oecd-labour-force-statistics_23083387 }}</ref> The Netherlands has the highest rate.]]

The '''[[economy]] of the [[Netherlands]]''' is a highly developed [[market economy]] focused on [[Trade|trade and logistics]], [[manufacturing]], [[tertiary sector of the economy|services]], [[innovation]] and [[technology]] and [[Sustainable energy|sustainable]] and [[renewable energy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Netherlands: Introduction |url=https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/netherlands |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=globaledge.msu.edu |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Netherlands Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption |url=https://www.heritage.org/index/country/netherlands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115143006/http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Netherlands |url-status=unfit |archive-date=15 January 2009 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.heritage.org |language=en}}</ref> It is the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|18th largest economy by nominal GDP]] and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|28th largest by purchasing power parity (PPP)]] and is the fifth largest economy in [[European Union]] by nominal GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=EU}}</ref> It has the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|11th highest per capita GDP (nominal)]] and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|13th highest per capita GDP (PPP)]] as of 2023 making it one of the highest earning nations in the world. Many of the world's largest tech companies are based in its capital [[Amsterdam]] or have established their European headquarters in the city, such as [[IBM]], [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[Cisco]], [[Uber]] and [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-22 |title=The Next Global Tech Hotspot? Amsterdam Stakes Its Claim |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-22/the-next-global-tech-hotspot-amsterdam-stakes-its-claim |access-date=2024-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-13 |title=The Netherlands is One of the Best Countries for Tech Companies |url=https://www.leideninternationalcentre.nl/get-advice/blogs/the-netherlands-is-one-of-the-best-countries-for-tech-companies |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Visit Leiden |language=en}}</ref> Its second largest city [[Rotterdam]] is a major trade, logistics and economic center of the world and is [[Port of Rotterdam|Europe's largest seaport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table?ts=1578685738191 |title=Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand |language=Dutch |website=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS StatLine]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725200732/https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table?ts=1578685738191 |archive-date=25 July 2019}}<br />8,219,380 Randstad<br />2,620,000 Rotterdam-The Hague Metro<br />1,160,000 Rotterdam Urban<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;651,446 Rotterdam Municipality</ref> Netherlands is ranked fifth on [[Global Innovation Index|global innovation index]] and fourth on the [[Global Competitiveness Report]]. Among [[OECD]] nations, Netherlands has a highly efficient and strong social security system; social expenditure stood at [[Welfare state#Effects|roughly 25.3% of GDP]].<ref name="Kenworthy">{{Cite journal |jstor = 3005973|title = Do Social-Welfare Policies Reduce Poverty? A Cross-National Assessment|journal = Social Forces|volume = 77|issue = 3|pages = 1119–1139|last1 = Kenworthy|first1 = Lane|year = 1999|doi = 10.2307/3005973|url = http://www.lisdatacenter.org/wps/liswps/188.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130810134045/http://www.lisdatacenter.org/wps/liswps/188.pdf|archive-date = 10 August 2013|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Bradley et al.">{{Cite journal |jstor = 3088901|title = Determinants of Relative Poverty in Advanced Capitalist Democracies|journal = American Sociological Review|volume = 68|issue = 1|pages = 22–51|last1 = Moller|first1 = Stephanie|last2 = Huber|first2 = Evelyne|last3 = Stephens|first3 = John D.|last4 = Bradley|first4 = David|last5 = Nielsen|first5 = François|year = 2003|doi = 10.2307/3088901}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.oecd.org/social/expenditure.htm | title=Social Expenditure – Aggregated data|work=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]]}}</ref> 

The Netherlands has a prosperous and [[open economy]], which depends heavily on foreign [[trade]]. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, fairly low [[unemployment]] and [[inflation]], a sizable [[Current account (balance of payments)|current account]] surplus (which, compared to the size of the country, is even more than Germany) and an important role as a European transportation hub; [[Rotterdam]] is the biggest port in Europe; and [[Amsterdam]] has one of the biggest airports in the world. Industrial activity is predominantly in [[food processing]], chemicals, petroleum refining, [[high-tech]], financial services, the creative sector and electrical machinery. Its highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 2% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002.

The [[Netherlands]] has had steady [[natural gas]] resources since 1959, when a wellspring was discovered. Currently the Netherlands accounts for more than 25% of all natural gas reserves in the [[European Union]]. Over the following decades, the sale of natural gas generated a significant rise in revenue for the Netherlands.<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl">{{cite news |url=http://vorige.nrc.nl//international/article2274261.ece/The_Dutch_curse_how_billions_from_natural_gas_went_up_in_smoke |title=The Dutch curse: how billions from natural gas went up in smoke |last=Banning |first=Cees |date=17 June 2009 |newspaper=[[NRC Handelsblad]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221000129/http://vorige.nrc.nl//international/article2274261.ece/The_Dutch_curse_how_billions_from_natural_gas_went_up_in_smoke |archive-date=21 December 2016 }}</ref>  However, the unforeseen consequences of the country's energy wealth originally impacted the competitiveness of other sectors of the economy, leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]], after the discovery of the vast [[Groningen gas field]].<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl"/>

The Netherlands is a "[[Conduit and sink OFCs|conduit country]]" that helps to funnel profits from high-tax countries to [[tax haven]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eur.nl/en/news/netherlands-still-tax-haven |title=Is the Netherlands Still a Tax Haven? |last=Schindler |first=Dirk |date=January 28, 2022 |website=Erasmus University Rotterdam |access-date=April 2, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> It has been ranked as the 7th largest tax haven in the World.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cthi.taxjustice.net/full-list |title=Corporate Tax Haven Index |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024 |website=Tax Justice Network |access-date=January 27, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

The stern financial was abandoned in 2009, because of the then-current credit crises. The relatively large banking sector was partly nationalized and bailed out through government interventions. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.0% in the summer of 2011, but increased with a sharp rate to 7.3% in May 2013, and 6.8% in 2015. It dropped again to 3.9% in March 2018.<ref>{{cite web | title=Kerncijfers - arbeid | publisher=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/home/default.htm | access-date=14 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Unemployment falls below 4 percent|date=19 April 2018 |url=https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2018/16/unemployment-falls-below-4-percent|publisher=CBS|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> The state budget deficit was about 2.2% in 2015, well below the norm of 3.0% in the EU.<ref>{{cite news | title=Begrotingstekort 2011 valt hoger uit | newspaper=z24 | date=17 February 2012 | access-date=14 April 2012 | url=http://www.z24.nl/economie/artikel_261317.z24/Begrotingstekort_2011_valt_hoger_uit.html}}</ref> In 2016, the state budget showed a surplus of 0.4%. It was expected to grow to a surplus of over 1.0% in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=82565NED|title=CBS StatLine - Overheid; Overheidssaldo en overheidsschuld|website=Statline.cbs.nl|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
Historically, the Dutch introduced and invented the [[stock market]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.worldbank.org/finance/assets/images/Historical_Primer.pdf|title=Missing File|website=1.worldbank.org|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914115135/http://www1.worldbank.org/finance/assets/images/Historical_Primer.pdf|archive-date=14 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> which initially focused on [[merchandise]] trading through the [[Dutch East India Company]]. The Netherlands is a founding member of the [[European Union]], the [[OECD]] and the [[World Trade Organization]].

==History==
{{see also|Economic history of the Netherlands (1500–1815)|Financial history of the Dutch Republic}}

After declaring its independence from the empire of [[Philip II of Spain]] in 1581, the Netherlands experienced almost a century of explosive economic growth. A technological revolution in capital, due to Protestant traders of Flanders who fled to the Netherlands, helped the young Republic become the dominant trade power by the mid-17th century. In 1670 the Dutch merchant marine totalled 568,000 tons of shipping—about half the European total. The main reasons for this were the dominance of the [[Amsterdam Entrepôt]] in European trade, and that of the [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch East India Company (or Verenigde Oost-Indische Companie – VOC)]] and [[Dutch West India Company|West India Companies]] in intercontinental trade. These companies were based on the English model and the success of England's joint-stock enterprises and trading guilds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KENNARD |first=MATT |date=2023-05-18 |title=How the modern corporation was invented in England |url=https://www.declassifieduk.org/how-the-modern-corporation-was-invented-in-england/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Declassified Media Ltd |language=en-US}}</ref>

Beside trade, an early "industrial revolution" (powered by wind, water and [[peat]]), land reclamation from the sea, and agricultural revolution, helped the Dutch economy achieve the highest standard of living in Europe (and presumably the world) by the middle of the 17th century. Affluence facilitated what is known as the [[Dutch Golden Age]]. This economic boom abruptly came to an end by a combination of political-military upheavals and adverse economic developments around 1670. Still the Netherlands kept a high level of prosperity, due to trade and agriculture.

Towards the 1800s, the Netherlands did not industrialize as rapidly as some other countries in Europe. One explanation for this is that the Netherlands were struggling to come to terms with having lost their dominant economical (based mainly on trade and agriculture) and political position in the world. Griffiths argues that government policies made possible a unified Dutch national economy in the 19th century. They included the abolition of internal tariffs and guilds; a unified coinage system; modern methods of tax collection; standardized weights and measures; and the building of many roads, canals, and railroads.

The rest of Europe in the 19th century saw the gradual transformation of the Netherlands into a modern middle-class industrial society. The number of people employed in agriculture decreased while the country made an effort to revive its stake in the highly competitive industrial and trade business. The Netherlands lagged behind Belgium until the late 19th century in industrialization, then caught up by about 1920. Major industries included textiles and (later) the great Philips industrial conglomerate. Rotterdam became a major shipping and manufacturing center.<ref>{{cite book|author=Loyen, Reginald|title=Struggling for Leadership: Antwerp-Rotterdam Port. Competition 1870–2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QG1R4StCc1gC|year= 2003|publisher=Springer|display-authors=etal|isbn=978-3-7908-1524-5}}</ref> Poverty slowly declined and begging largely disappeared along with steadily improving working conditions for the population.

In 1959, the Netherlands discovered large natural gas fields. The export of natural gas led to large windfall profits. However, as an unforeseen consequence, these were believed to have led to a decline in the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands.<ref name="The Economist pp. 82-83">"The Dutch Disease" (26 November 1977). ''The Economist'', pp. 82–83.</ref>

==Government==
While the private sector is the cornerstone of the Dutch economy, governments at different levels have a large part to play. Public spending, excluding social security transfer payments, was at 28% of GDP in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.CON.GOVT.ZS|title= General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)|publisher=[[World Bank]]|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> Total tax revenue was 38.7% of GDP in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/taxation/total-tax-revenue_20758510-table2|title=Total tax revenue as percent of GDP|publisher=[[OECD]]|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> which was below the EU average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?wai=true&dataset=gov_a_tax_ag2|title=Main national accounts tax aggregates|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> In addition to its own spending, the government plays a significant role through the permit requirements and regulations pertaining to almost every aspect of economic activity. The government combines a rigorous and stable microeconomic policy with wide-ranging structural and regulatory reforms. The government has gradually reduced its role in the economy since the 1980s. Privatization and deregulation is still continuing. With regards to social and economic policy, the government cooperates with its so called [[social partner]]s ([[trade union]]s and [[employers' organization]]s). The three parties come together in the [[Social-Economic Council]] (‘Sociaal Economische Raad’), the main platform for [[social dialogue]].

=== Social security system ===
The Dutch social security is very comprehensive and multi-faceted,{{clarify|date=December 2024}} and is divided into the national security (''[[:nl:Volksverzekering|Volksverzekering]])'' and the employee insurance (''[[:nl:Werknemersverzekering|Werknemersverzekering]]).'' Whereas the first covers all living in the Netherlands and the social benefits provided, the latter provides employment-related benefits.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/empl_portal/SSRinEU/Your%20social%20security%20rights%20in%20Netherlands_en.pdf|title=Your social security rights in the Netherlands|date=2013|website=Ec.europa.eu|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> All living in the Netherlands are required to pay into the social security system, including residents from outside the Netherlands, with a few exceptions.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.svb.nl/int/en/|title=SVB home - SVB|last=Verzekeringsbank|first=Sociale|website=Svb.nl|language=en|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524102521/https://www.svb.nl/int/en/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Volksverzekering is compulsory for all and covers the residents under different forms of national insurance:<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.expatica.com/nl/living/gov-law-admin/social-security-in-the-netherlands-100578/|title=Social security in the Netherlands|access-date=27 June 2022|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Social Welfare in Developed Market Countries|last=Roebroek|first=Joop M.|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781317366775|editor-last=Dixon Scheurell|editor-first=John Robert P.|pages=147–189}}</ref>
* [[Healthcare in the Netherlands|Long-term care]] under the Long-Term Care Act (''Wet Langdurige Zorg (WLZ)) (''formerly known as The Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (Algemen Wet Bijzondere Ziektekosten ([[AWBZ]])))
* [[Pensions in the Netherlands|Pension care]] under the General Old Age Pensions Act (''[[Algemene Ouderdomswet]] (AOW))''
* Survivor benefits under the General Surviving Relatives Act (''[[:nl:Algemene nabestaandenwet|Algemene nabestaandenwet]]( ANW)) (formerly known as  ''The General Widow's and Orphans’ Act (Algemene Weduwen-en Wezenwet (AWW)))
* [[Family policy in the Netherlands|Child benefits]] under the General Family Allowances Act (''[[:nl:Kinderbijslag (Nederland)|Algemene Kinderbijslagwet]] (AKW))''
It is overseen by the Social Insurance Bank (''[[:nl:Sociale Verzekeringsbank|Sociale Verzekeringsbank]] (SVB))'' and financed through earning-related contributions of employers and employees up until a maximum income-ceiling. Whilst employed persons get their contribution deducted automatically from their wage, the unemployed pay by themselves. The AKW is financed by employers, whereas the AOW is financed by the employees. The AOW, additionally, is financed by a small government subsidy.

The ''Werknemersverzekering'' is compulsory for all employed people within the Netherlands. It includes the coverage of employees in the following areas:
* [[Unemployment benefits]] under the Unemployment Insurance Act (''[[:nl:Werkloosheidswet|Werkloosheidswet]] (WW))''
* [[Sick leave]] under the Sickness Benefits Act (''[[:nl:Ziektewet|Ziektewet]] (ZW))''
* Disability benefits under the Disablement Insurance Act ([[:nl:Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen|''Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen'']] ''(WIA))''
The financing for the ''Werknemersverzekering'' is automatically deducted from the employee's income by the employer.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":1" />

==== Unemployment benefits ====

===== Coverage =====
The unemployment benefits in the Netherlands, as set out under the WW, covers almost all employees, that are employees based on a working-contract. Excluded from the WW are the following: self-employed, nationally employed, persons working less than four days a week, heads of stockholders and voluntary workers that earn up to €150 per year.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

===== Right to benefits =====
To profit from the benefit the unemployed has to submit an application to the Employee Insurance Agency (''Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen (UWV))'' within one week of becoming unemployed and additionally has to register as job-seeker. The WW only covers employees with a sufficient work history,  meaning that an applicant has to have been working for at least 26 weeks in the past 36 weeks before becoming unemployed. If so, the working-weeks requirement is met. Moreover, the employee is only eligible to unemployment benefits if the unemployment has not been due to his own fault (e.g. own termination of the job contract).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

===== Benefits =====
The benefits received through the WW are earnings-related and amount to 75% of the previous daily earnings (based on 5 working days per week) for the duration of two months. After those two months the benefits reduce to 70%. Part-time work is taken into account with a calculation of parts of the working hours.{{clarify|date=December 2024}} If this benefit is less than the minimum income, the benefit can be supplemented under the Additional Allowances Act (''Toeslagenwet''). If there has been a change of employment, all jobs in the previous twelve months are included in the calculation of the benefits. To continue to receive benefits, the individual needs to be actively looking for work. Moreover, one needs to participate in e-coaching three and twelve months after the start of unemployment. After one year of unemployment one must register with an employment agency.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":02" />

===Controversial issues===
====Labour market and social welfare====
The Dutch labour market has relatively strict regulations for employers on firing employees, although by June 2014 the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] has agreed to loosen these regulations.{{update inline|date=October 2018}} Due to the costs of employees and costs of firing them, a large part of the working force (about 15% of the working force) is an independent one person company (ZZP).  They are independent and get paid by delivery without higher social costs.{{clarify|date=October 2018}} Another big part of the workforce is hired as temporary workforce. State unemployment benefits in the form of a 70% benefit of the employee's last-earned salary for up to three years (with a maximum of roughly 2500 euros per month) are available for fired employees, provided that they have worked for a certain minimum time period, usually 26 weeks. Moreover, the self-employed individuals (zelfstandigen zonder personeel (ZZP)) are not automatically covered under the ''Werknemersverzekeringen'', and are not obligated to enroll into unemployment, sickness or disabilities insurance. Self-employed individuals are therefore required to enroll themselves with private insurance companies.<ref name=":02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/34004969.pdf|title=OECD - Social Policy Division - Directorate of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs : Country chapter - Benefits and Wages : The Netherlands|date=2002|website=Oecd.org|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>.  The Dutch Government is however, working hard to combat bogus self-employment by applying significant changes and tightening of rules under Wet Deregulering Beoordeling Arbeidsrelaties (DBA).  <ref>https://www.darwinrecruitment.com/new-dutch-legislation-the-impact-of-freelancers/</ref>.

====Age of retirement====
Under the [[Algemene Ouderdomswet|AOW]] (General Old Age Pensions Act) of 1956, every Dutch citizen was entitled to a state pension from the age of 65. However the act was amended in 2012 to increase the pension age in several stages up to 67 in 2024. Married couples and those who live together receive 50% of minimum wage per person, and a single person receives 70% of minimum wage. Most (about 70%) earn an extra pension from private pension funds. Employees are obliged to participate in the sector pension funds.{{clarify|date=October 2018}} The total amount of pension funds at the end of 2009 was some 664 billion euro and by the end of 2019 this had increased to 1560 billion euro, for a population of just over 17 million. Employees receive on average about 70% of their final salary. During the economic crisis{{which|date=October 2018}} and because of low interest rates, pension funds have had difficulty keeping up with inflation.

==== Inequality and redistribution====
With a [[Gini coefficient]] of 25.1 (2013) the income inequality is relatively low in the Netherlands. However, the inequality when measured in distributions of household wealth is high, where the top 1% owns 24% of all net wealth, and the top 10% own 60%. Moreover, rather large wealth disparities persist in the Netherlands in relation to age, where those under 35 years-of-age own 10% as much as older workers. This is a consequence from the low taxation of home ownership and a generous [[Home mortgage interest deduction|mortgage interest deductibility]], which benefit the wealthier households.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/netherlands/OECD2015-In-It-Together-Highlights-Netherlands.pdf|title=In It Together Why Less Inequality Benefits All... in the Netherlands|date=2015|website=Oecd.org|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> Due to the generous pensions the pension-related savings are the most important part of wealth in the Netherlands, yet are not subject to capital income taxation, which increases the inequality. The taxation comes as income tax when the saved pension is paid out. People having earned minimum wages only, will not build up any pension. The idea behind a pension is to have a net income after retirement that is comparable to before retirement. The AOW, the Dutch retirement law, guarantees an income up to 70% of minimum wage per person. Therefore, only people earning more than minimum wage need to save to ensure comparable income after retirement.

==== Home mortgage interest deduction ====
The Netherlands was{{when|date=October 2023}} one of the few countries in the world where the interest paid on mortgages is almost fully deductible from income tax. Since 2013 big changes were made. The conditions allowing a borrowing of more than 116% of the value of the home were reduced to 106% and are still continuously being reduced every year. The deduction is also capped to 50.5% and reducing every year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tariefsaanpassing aftrek kosten eigen woning|url=https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/woning/uw_hypotheek_of_lening/tariefsaanpassing_aftrek_kosten_eigen_woning/tariefsaanpassing_aftrek_kosten_eigen_woning|website=Belastingdienst|access-date=15 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131120755/http://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/woning/uw_hypotheek_of_lening/tariefsaanpassing_aftrek_kosten_eigen_woning/tariefsaanpassing_aftrek_kosten_eigen_woning|archive-date=31 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Together with the after-effects of the [[Great Recession]] the result was a housing crisis, with a decrease of prices almost 25% percent in some areas. Recent years have shown a recovery of 10% to even 20% per year in the most popular cities.

The Service sector accounts for more than half of the national income, primarily in transportation, distribution and [[logistics]], financial areas, software development and the creative industry. The breadth of service providers in financial services has contributed to the Netherlands achieving a [[Division for the Advancement of Women|DAW]] Index score of 5 in 2012. Industrial activity is dominated by the machinery, electronics/high tech industry, metalworking, oil refining, chemical, and food-processing industries. Construction amounts to about 6% of GDP. Agriculture and fishing, although visible and traditional Dutch activities, account for just 2%.

The Netherlands continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the United States. The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005, but in 2006 recovered to the fastest pace in six years on the back of increased exports<ref>{{Cite web|title=Netherlands Business Overview|url=https://bizpages.org/countries--NL--Netherlands|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420173355/https://bizpages.org/countries--NL--Netherlands |archive-date=20 April 2020 }}</ref> and strong investment. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007. The Netherlands is the fifth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]]'s [[Global Competitiveness Report]].<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref>

== Primary sector ==
=== Agriculture ===
In 2018, in addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products,<ref>[http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/ France production in 2018, by FAO]</ref> the Netherlands produced:<ref>[http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/ Netherlands production in 2018, by FAO]</ref>
* 1.2 million tons of [[onion]];
* 14 million tons of cow [[milk]];
* 247 thousand tons of [[barley]];
* 269 thousand tons of [[apple]];
* 295 thousand tons of [[lettuce]];
* 300 thousand tons of [[mushroom]] and [[truffle]];
* 355 thousand tons of [[bell pepper]];
* 402 thousand tons of [[pear]];
* 410 thousand tons of [[cucumber]];
* 538 thousand tons of [[carrot]];
* 6.0 million tonnes of [[potato|potatoes]] (10th largest producer in the world);
* 6.5 million tons of [[sugar beet]], which is used to produce [[sugar]] and [[ethanol]];
* 910 thousand tons of [[tomato]];
* 961 thousand tons of [[wheat]].

== Energy sector ==
{{main|Energy in the Netherlands}}

=== Natural gas ===
{{See also|Dutch disease}}
[[File:Natural gas NL.png|thumb|Natural gas concessions in the Netherlands. Today the Netherlands accounts for more than 25% of all Natural Gas reserves in the EU.]]
[[File:Wildervank natural gas field.jpg|thumb|250px|Station Wildervank of the Groningen natural gas field, which transformed the Netherlands economy after its discovery in 1959, leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]]]]
The discovery of the large [[Groningen gas field|Groningen natural gas field]] in 1959 and the massive windfalls accrued over subsequent decades, were believed to have led to a decline in the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands,<ref name="The Economist pp. 82-83"/> leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]].<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl"/>

While its [[oil reserves]] in the [[North Sea]] are of little importance, the Netherlands have an estimated 25% of natural gas reserves in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebn.nl/oil-and-gas-in-the-netherlands/?lang=en|title=The hunt for gas and oil reserves that are more difficult to extract|publisher=EBN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907041804/https://www.ebn.nl/oil-and-gas-in-the-netherlands/?lang=en|archive-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> Natural gas reserves of the Netherlands are estimated (as of 2014) to be about 600 billion cubic feet,<ref>{{Cite report |date=2015 |url=https://www.ebn.nl/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/10171_EBNfocus_v5.pdf |title=Focus on Dutch Oil and Gas 2015 |publisher=EBN |page=10}}</ref> or about 0.3% of the world total. In 2014–2015 the government decided to reduce the production of gas in the province [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] significantly due to problems of sinking ground, differential settlement levels and tremors (small earth quakes) causing damages to properties, end 2018 the government decided to completely abandon the gas production in the province of Groningen by reducing the production slightly each year, the production was expected to come to a halt entirely by 2028.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/23/gas-field-earthquakes-put-netherlands-biggest-firms-on-extraction-notice | title=Gas field earthquakes put Netherlands' biggest firms on extraction notice | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=23 January 2018 }}</ref> On June 23, 2023, the government decided to close the remaining five production facilities as of October 1, 2023. The possibility of reopening one or more facilities is being kept open, citing the uncertain international situation and possibly very cold weather as possible reasons for this. All wells will be permanently closed and dismantled as of October 1, 2024. <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2023/06/23/gaswinning-groningen-stopt-per-1-oktober-2023 | title=Gaswinning Groningen stopt per 1 oktober 2023 | website=rijksoverheid.nl | date=23 June 2023 | language=nl }}</ref>

To reduce its [[greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse emissions]], the government of the Netherlands is subsidizing a transition away from natural gas for all homes in the country by 2050.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/186860/maandag-1000-uur-van-der-pekbuurt-gaat-als-eerste-wijk-van-het-aardgas-af-2 |date=1 October 2018 |title=Van der Pekbuurt gaat als eerste Amsterdamse wijk van het aardgas af |language=nl}}</ref> In the Netherlands, 98% of enterprises are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, beating the EU average of 89%. However, only 48% of Dutch firms set and monitor their own emission targets.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> Dutch enterprises mostly cut emissions through waste reduction or recycling (86%), as well as energy efficiency programmes (76%).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050 |url=https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/files/17037circulaireeconomie_en.pdf}}</ref>

In the Netherlands, 78% of enterprises have invested in reducing [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon emissions]] and mitigating the impact of weather disasters as of 2023. Six out of ten (60%) plan to invest in these areas during the next three years. The numbers for 'already invested' and 'intend to invest' above the EU average (56% and 54%, respectively).<ref name=":193">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> The largest invested is in trash reduction or recycling (86% of Dutch firms).<ref name=":1932">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

Dutch companies are more likely to see the transition to stronger climate laws as an opportunity (39% vs 23% from other European firms).<ref name=":1933">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

=== Nuclear energy ===
{{further|Nuclear energy in the Netherlands}}
Researchers in the Netherlands began studying [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] in the 1930s and began construction of research reactor [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant|Dodewaard]] in 1955. Researchers’ goal was to introduce [[nuclear power]] technology by 1962 and replace [[fossil fuels]]. In 1968, a test nuclear reactor was attached to the [[power grid]]. This unit was shut down in 1997. In the 1970s, the Dutch chose a policy that required [[Nuclear reprocessing|reprocessing]] all [[spent nuclear fuel]]. In 1984, the government decided to create a long-term (100 years) storage facility for all intermediate and low-level radioactive waste and research strategies for ultimate disposal. In September 2003, the [[COVRA|Central Organization for Radioactive Waste]] created an interim storage facility for [[high-level waste]]. The Netherlands' only commercial [[nuclear reactor]] is [[Borssele nuclear power plant|Borssele]], which became operational in 1973 and {{as of|2011|lc=on}} produces about 4% of the country's electricity.<ref>{{cite web |title= Nuclear Power in the Netherlands |publisher= [[World Nuclear Association]] (WNA) |url= http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf107.html |date= January 2011 |access-date= 21 February 2011 |archive-date= 27 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130227105558/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf107.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> The older [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant]] was a test reactor that later got attached to the national grid but was closed in 1997. A 2MW research reactor known as [[Reactor Institute Delft|Reactor Institute Delft (RID)]] is located in Delft, as part of the physics department of [[Delft University of Technology]]. This reactor is not meant for energy provision but used as a neutron and positron source for research.

In 1994, the [[States General of the Netherlands]] voted to phase out nuclear power after a discussion of nuclear waste management. In 1997, the power station at [[Dodewaard nuclear power plant|Dodewaard]] was shut down and the government decided it was planning to end [[Borssele nuclear power plant|Borssele]]'s operating license in 2003. This has since been postponed to 2034, if it complied with the highest safety standards.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} After the [[Dutch general election, 2010|2010 election]], the [[First Rutte cabinet|new government]] was open to expanding nuclear power. Both of the companies that share ownership of Borssele are proposing to build new reactors.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/10/holland_energy_switch/ | title= Holland slashes carbon targets, shuns wind for nuclear | first= Andrew |last= Orlowski | date= 10 February 2011 | work= [[The Register]] | access-date= 21 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/:energiepolitik-holland-plant-strahlende-zukunft/60008920.html | title= Energiepolitik: Holland plant strahlende Zukunft | first= Michael | last= Gassmann | language= de | date= 8 February 2011 | work= [[Financial Times Deutschland]] | access-date= 21 February 2011 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110211022605/http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/industrie/:energiepolitik-holland-plant-strahlende-zukunft/60008920.html | archive-date= 11 February 2011 | df= dmy-all }}</ref> In January 2012, Delta announced it postpones any decision to start building a second nuclear power plant.

==Tourism==
In 2011, the Netherlands was visited by 11.3 million foreign tourists.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2013 Edition|url=http://mkt.unwto.org/en/publication/unwto-tourism-highlights-2013-edition|publisher=United Nations World Tourism Organization|access-date=25 August 2013|archive-date=9 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409080119/http://mkt.unwto.org/en/publication/unwto-tourism-highlights-2013-edition|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Tourism in the Netherlands|Dutch tourism industry]] contributed 5.4% in total to the country's [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]] and 9.6% in total to its employment. With its global ranking of 147th and 83rd place for total contribution to respectively GDP and employment, tourism is a relatively small sector of the Dutch economy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Netherlands Economic Impact Report|url=http://www.wttc.org/research/economic-impact-research/country-reports/n/netherlands/|publisher=World Travel & Tourism Council|access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref> [[North Holland]] was by far the most popular province for foreign tourists in 2011. Out of all 11.3 million tourists, 6 million visited North Holland. [[South Holland]] took the second place with 1.4 million. Germans, Britons and Belgians made up the majority of foreign tourists, respectively 3, 1.5 and 1.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toerisme en recreatie in cijfers 2012|date=16 November 2012 |url=http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/vrije-tijd-cultuur/publicaties/publicaties/archief/2012/2012-g82-toerisme-en-recreatie-in-cijfers.htm|publisher=Statistics Netherlands|access-date=25 August 2013|language=nl}}</ref>  As of 2020, there are nine [[List of World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands|World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands]]. The Netherlands are well known for their [[Dutch art|art]] and rich historical heritage.

In the [[fast food restaurant]] and [[snackbar]] sector [[McDonald's]] dominates and employs the most staff, followed by [[Burger King]], [[FEBO]] established as only national player, and [[Kwalitaria]]. Other chains in the Dutch market are [[Applebee's]], [[Pizza Hut]], [[Domino's Pizza]], and [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]]. The Belgium chain [[Quick (restaurant)|Quick]] retreated from the Dutch market in 2000.<ref>{{cite book|title=Labour Relations in the Global Fast-Food Industry|editor1=Brian Towers|editor2=Tony Royle|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781134597635|page=93-94}}</ref>

== Data ==
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2021 (with IMF staff estimates in 2022–2027). Inflation under 5% is in green. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=138,&s=NGDP_RPCH,NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,PCPIPCH,LUR,GGXWDG_NGDP,&sy=1980&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 | title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects }}</ref>
{{static row numbers}}{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="text-align:center;"
!Year
!GDP<br /><small>(in bn. US$PPP)</small>
!GDP per capita<br /><small>(in US$ PPP)</small>
!GDP<br /><small>(in bn. US$nominal)</small>
!GDP per capita<br /><small>(in US$ nominal)</small>
!GDP growth<br /><small>(real)</small>
!Inflation rate<br /><small>(in Percent)</small>
!Unemployment<br /><small>(in Percent)</small>
!Government debt<br /><small>(in % of GDP)</small>
|-
|1980
|165.0
|11,708.1
|193.8
|13,750.5
|n/a
|n/a
|3.4%
|43.6%
|-
|1981
|{{Increase}}179.7
|{{Increase}}12,644.4
|{{Decrease}}162.4
|{{Decrease}}11,429.7
|{{Decrease}}-0.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}46.9%
|-
|1982
|{{Increase}}188.3
|{{Increase}}13,181.8
|{{Decrease}}157.3
|{{Decrease}}11,013.6
|{{Decrease}}-1.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}52.5%
|-
|1983
|{{Increase}}199.1
|{{Increase}}13,886.6
|{{Decrease}}153.2
|{{Decrease}}10,682.3
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}58.5%
|-
|1984
|{{Increase}}212.7
|{{Increase}}14,779.7
|{{Decrease}}142.6
|{{Decrease}}9,905.0
|{{Increase}}3.1%
|{{Increase}}3.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}8.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}62.0%
|-
|1985
|{{Increase}}225.3
|{{Increase}}15,587.9
|{{Increase}}144.7
|{{Increase}}10,008.0
|{{Increase}}2.7%
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}67.2%
|-
|1986
|{{Increase}}237.0
|{{Increase}}16,313.5
|{{Increase}}201.6
|{{Increase}}13,875.2
|{{Increase}}3.1%
|n/a
|{{DecreasePositive}}6.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}69.0%
|-
|1987
|{{Increase}}247.4
|{{Increase}}16,926.4
|{{Increase}}246.9
|{{Increase}}16,895.4
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{Increase}}-1.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}6.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}71.4%
|-
|1988
|{{Increase}}267.8
|{{Increase}}18,202.4
|{{Increase}}264.2
|{{Increase}}17,956.1
|{{Increase}}4.6%
|{{Increase}}0.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}6.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}73.8%
|-
|1989
|{{Increase}}290.8
|{{Increase}}19,643.3
|{{Decrease}}260.5
|{{Decrease}}17,597.3
|{{Increase}}4.5%
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}5.7%
|{{Steady}}73.8%
|-
|1990
|{{Increase}}314.3
|{{Increase}}21,105.3
|{{Increase}}321.4
|{{Increase}}21,581.6
|{{Increase}}4.2%
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}5.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}75.1%
|-
|1991
|{{Increase}}332.9
|{{Increase}}22,178.4
|{{Increase}}331.1
|{{Increase}}22,057.8
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{Increase}}3.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}74.9%
|-
|1992
|{{Increase}}345.9
|{{Increase}}22,863.5
|{{Increase}}366.0
|{{Increase}}24,192.0
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}75.7%
|-
|1993
|{{Increase}}358.6
|{{Increase}}23,530.1
|{{Decrease}}355.9
|{{Decrease}}23,356.3
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}76.8%
|-
|1994
|{{Increase}}377.3
|{{Increase}}24,590.5
|{{Increase}}382.6
|{{Increase}}24,935.5
|{{Increase}}3.0%
|{{Increase}}2.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}73.6%
|-
|1995
|{{Increase}}395.8
|{{Increase}}25,664.2
|{{Increase}}452.7
|{{Increase}}29,350.8
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}72.2%
|-
|1996
|{{Increase}}417.2
|{{Increase}}26,925.6
|{{Decrease}}450.6
|{{Decrease}}29,084.1
|{{Increase}}3.5%
|{{Increase}}1.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}70.5%
|-
|1997
|{{Increase}}442.7
|{{Increase}}28,440.8
|{{Decrease}}417.3
|{{Decrease}}26,808.4
|{{Increase}}4.3%
|{{Increase}}1.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}6.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}64.9%
|-
|1998
|{{Increase}}468.6
|{{Increase}}29,936.1
|{{Increase}}438.6
|{{Increase}}28,018.7
|{{Increase}}4.7%
|{{Increase}}1.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}61.7%
|-
|1999
|{{Increase}}499.1
|{{Increase}}31,671.1
|{{Increase}}447.5
|{{Increase}}28,393.8
|{{Increase}}5.0%
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}57.5%
|-
|2000
|{{Increase}}531.9
|{{Increase}}33,528.1
|{{Decrease}}417.7
|{{Decrease}}26,327.9
|{{Increase}}4.2%
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}3.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}50.9%
|-
|2001
|{{Increase}}556.5
|{{Increase}}34,811.4
|{{Increase}}431.6
|{{Increase}}26,996.2
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}3.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}48.2%
|-
|2002
|{{Increase}}566.4
|{{Increase}}35,170.5
|{{Increase}}473.5
|{{Increase}}29,402.0
|{{Increase}}0.2%
|{{Increase}}3.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}3.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}47.5%
|-
|2003
|{{Increase}}578.5
|{{Increase}}35,727.5
|{{Increase}}579.9
|{{Increase}}35,814.3
|{{Increase}}0.2%
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}48.7%
|-
|2004
|{{Increase}}605.8
|{{Increase}}37,263.5
|{{Increase}}658.1
|{{Increase}}40,477.3
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Increase}}1.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}49.1%
|-
|2005
|{{Increase}}637.6
|{{Increase}}39,104.4
|{{Increase}}685.7
|{{Increase}}42,054.9
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Increase}}1.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}7.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}48.5%
|-
|2006
|{{Increase}}680.0
|{{Increase}}41,633.3
|{{Increase}}734.0
|{{Increase}}44,936.0
|{{Increase}}3.5%
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}6.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}44.1%
|-
|2007
|{{Increase}}724.8
|{{Increase}}44,306.7
|{{Increase}}848.7
|{{Increase}}51,880.4
|{{Increase}}3.8%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}5.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}42.0%
|-
|2008
|{{Increase}}754.7
|{{Increase}}46,003.9
|{{Increase}}951.8
|{{Increase}}58,015.4
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}53.8%
|-
|2009
|{{Decrease}}731.7
|{{Decrease}}44,383.2
|{{Decrease}}870.6
|{{Decrease}}52,807.4
|{{Decrease}}-3.7%
|{{Increase}}1.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}5.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}55.8%
|-
|2010
|{{Increase}}750.4
|{{Increase}}45,274.1
|{{Decrease}}848.1
|{{Decrease}}51,165.8
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{Increase}}0.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}59.4%
|-
|2011
|{{Increase}}777.9
|{{Increase}}46,703.3
|{{Increase}}905.1
|{{Increase}}54,342.1
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Increase}}2.5%
|{{Steady}}6.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}61.8%
|-
|2012
|{{Increase}}792.0
|{{Increase}}47,341.6
|{{Decrease}}839.5
|{{Decrease}}50,175.6
|{{Decrease}}-1.0%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}6.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}66.4%
|-
|2013
|{{Increase}}827.5
|{{Increase}}49,314.5
|{{Increase}}877.2
|{{Increase}}52,277.0
|{{Decrease}}-0.1%
|{{Increase}}2.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}67.8%
|-
|2014
|{{Increase}}830.3
|{{Increase}}49,337.7
|{{Increase}}892.4
|{{Increase}}53,026.5
|{{Increase}}1.4%
|{{Increase}}0.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}68.0%
|-
|2015
|{{Increase}}852.1
|{{Increase}}50,418.7
|{{Decrease}}765.7
|{{Decrease}}45,302.8
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Increase}}0.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}64.6%
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}}890.4
|{{Increase}}52,440.8
|{{Increase}}783.8
|{{Increase}}46,165.2
|{{Increase}}2.2%
|{{Increase}}0.1%
|{{DecreasePositive}}7.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}61.9%
|-
|2017
|{{Increase}}948.2
|{{Increase}}55,509.3
|{{Increase}}833.6
|{{Increase}}48,799.9
|{{Increase}}2.9%
|{{Increase}}1.3%
|{{DecreasePositive}}5.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}56.9%
|-
|2018
|{{Increase}}993.8
|{{Increase}}57,839.9
|{{Increase}}914.5
|{{Increase}}53,224.7
|{{Increase}}2.4%
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}52.4%
|-
|2019
|{{Increase}}1,031.3
|{{Increase}}59,674.9
|{{Decrease}}910.3
|{{Decrease}}52,672.5
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{Increase}}2.7%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.4%
|{{DecreasePositive}}48.5%
|-
|2020
|{{Decrease}}1,002.9
|{{Decrease}}57,612.5
|{{Decrease}}909.1
|{{Decrease}}52,222.4
|{{Decrease}}-3.9%
|{{Increase}}1.1%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.9%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}54.6%
|-
|2021
|{{Increase}}1,095.4
|{{Increase}}62,685.0
|{{Increase}}1,013.5
|{{Increase}}57,996.9
|{{Increase}}4.9%
|{{Increase}}2.8%
|{{DecreasePositive}}4.2%
|{{DecreasePositive}}52.3%
|-
|2022
|{{Increase}}1,226.7
|{{Increase}}69,714.5
|{{Decrease}}990.6
|{{Decrease}}56,297.8
|{{Increase}}4.5%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}12.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}3.5%
|{{DecreasePositive}}48.3%
|-
|2023
|{{Increase}}1,280.5
|{{Increase}}72,363.5
|{{Increase}}1,019.8
|{{Increase}}57,628.6
|{{Increase}}0.8%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}8.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}3.9%
|{{DecreasePositive}}46.4%
|-
|2024
|{{Increase}}1,329.6
|{{Increase}}74,842.4
|{{Increase}}1,077.0
|{{Increase}}60,620.9
|{{Increase}}1.7%
|{{Increase}}2.7%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.0%
|{{DecreasePositive}}45.6%
|-
|2025
|{{Increase}}1,376.0
|{{Increase}}77,235.7
|{{Increase}}1,125.5
|{{Increase}}63,173.5
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Increase}}2.3%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.2%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}46.2%
|-
|2026
|{{Increase}}1,424.2
|{{Increase}}79,717.7
|{{Increase}}1,173.5
|{{Increase}}65,684.3
|{{Increase}}1.6%
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.4%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}47.2%
|-
|2027
|{{Increase}}1,474.1
|{{Increase}}82,280.9
|{{Increase}}1,223.4
|{{Increase}}68,285.1
|{{Increase}}1.5%
|{{Increase}}2.0%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}4.6%
|{{IncreaseNegative}}48.1%
|}

== Companies ==
In 2022, the sector with the highest number of companies registered in Netherlands is Services with 761,749 companies followed by Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate and Retail Trade with 693,255 and 101,025 companies respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hithorizons.com/eu/analyses/country-statistics/netherlands | title=Industry Breakdown of Companies in Netherlands | website=HitHorizons}}</ref>

In the Netherlands, 91% of enterprises say they have invested appropriately during the past three years (2023 - 2020). This beats the EU average at 82%.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> Compared to other enterprises in the EU, Dutch firms prioritise new goods or services (26% vs. 34% for replacement). In keeping with the EU average of 10%, just 7% of enterprises in the Netherlands do not plan to invest.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> Dutch companies were hurt by the [[energy crisis]] in 2022 - 2023, albeit to a lower extent than those elsewhere in the EU. While most companies are concerned about energy prices, just 30% consider it a critical issue. This is half of the EU average (59%).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy crisis has disruptive effect on Dutch manufacturing |url=https://www.abnamro.com/research/en/our-research/energy-crisis-has-disruptive-effect-on-dutch-manufacturing}}</ref>

Dutch firms face significant long-term hurdles to investment, including a lack of trained people (71%), and high energy prices (66%). Barriers are diminishing, with numbers lower than the EU average and than 2021. For example, the availability of funding is less of an impediment than across the EU (23% versus 44%).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

In 2023, one in ten Dutch enterprises (13%) brought new goods, processes, or services to the Dutch or global market.<ref name=":1934">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref> Majority of Dutch firms are also more technologically oriented than EU peers - almost eight out of ten Dutch firms (78%) employed at least one digital technology in 2023. The EU average is 70%. The majority of Dutch firms utilise digital platform technologies (59%), robots (56%), and the Internet of Things (55%), whereas just a small percentage use 3D printing (19%) or augmented/VR technology (15%).<ref name=":1935">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20230340-econ-eibis-2023-netherlands |title=EIB Investment Survey 2023 - Netherlands overview |date=2024-01-31 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5684-7 |language=EN}}</ref>

== Largest companies ==
{{See also|List of largest companies of the Netherlands}}
The Netherlands is home to several large multinationals including [[Heineken]], [[Ahold]], [[Philips]], [[TomTom]], [[Randstad NV]] and [[ING Group|ING]], all of which have their headquarters in [[Amsterdam]]. Thousands of companies of non-Dutch origin have their headquarters in the Netherlands, like [[EADS]], [[LyondellBasell]] and [[IKEA]], because of attractive [[corporate tax]] levels.{{Citation needed|reason=Source needed|date=December 2016}}

The Netherlands' biggest companies in the [[Fortune Global 500]] as of 2022 are as following:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Rank
!Fortune 500<br />rank
!Name
!Industry
!Revenue<br /><small>(USD millions)</small>
!Profits<br /><small>(USD millions)</small>
!Assets<br /> <small>(USD millions)</small>
!Employees
!Headquarters
|-
|{{Increase}}1
|{{Increase}}29
|[[Stellantis]]
|[[Automotive industry|Automotive]]
| style="text-align:center;" |176,663.0
| style="text-align:center;" |16,789.1
| style="text-align:center;" |195,297.9
| style="text-align:center;" |281,595
|[[Amsterdam]]
|-
|{{Increase}}2
|{{Increase}}115
|[[Ahold Delhaize]]
|[[Retail]]
| style="text-align:center;" |89,385.6
| style="text-align:center;" |2,655.5
| style="text-align:center;" |51,974.5
| style="text-align:center;" |259,000
|[[Zaandam]]
|-
|{{Increase}}3
|{{Increase}}200
|[[Aegon N.V.|Aegon]]
|[[Financial services]]
| style="text-align:center;" |63,662.7
| style="text-align:center;" |2,341.0
| style="text-align:center;" |532,402.5
| style="text-align:center;" |22,271
|[[The Hague]]
|-
|{{Decrease}}3
|{{Decrease}}207
|[[Airbus]]
|[[Aerospace]] and [[Arms industry|defense]]
| style="text-align:center;" |61,657.5
| style="text-align:center;" |4,981.2
| style="text-align:center;" |121,712.4
| style="text-align:center;" |126,495
|[[Leiden]]
|-
|{{Increase}}4
|{{Increase}}276
|[[Louis Dreyfus Company]]
|[[Food production]]
| style="text-align:center;" |49,569.0
| style="text-align:center;" |697.0
| style="text-align:center;" |23,626.0
| style="text-align:center;" |15,737
|[[Rotterdam]]
|-
|{{Increase}}5
|{{Increase}}287
|[[INGKA Holding]]
|Retail
| style="text-align:center;" |47,545.8
| style="text-align:center;" |1,887.1
| style="text-align:center;" |65,010.9
| style="text-align:center;" |174,225
|[[Leiden]]
|-
|{{Increase}}6
|{{Increase}}305
|[[LyondellBasell]]
|[[Chemical industry|Chemicals]]
| style="text-align:center;" |46,173.0
| style="text-align:center;" |5,610.0
| style="text-align:center;" |36,742.0
| style="text-align:center;" |19,100
|Rotterdam
|-
|{{Decrease}}7
|{{Decrease}}425
|[[ING Group]]
|[[Banking]]
| style="text-align:center;" |33,851.4
| style="text-align:center;" |7,036.1
| style="text-align:center;" |1,079,297.3
| style="text-align:center;" |57,660
|Amsterdam
|-
|{{Increase}}8
|{{Increase}}477
|[[X5 Group]]
|Retail
| style="text-align:center;" |29,921.7
| style="text-align:center;" |580.0
| style="text-align:center;" |17,164.8
| style="text-align:center;" |340,928
|The Hague
|-
|{{Decrease}}9
|{{Decrease}}491
|[[Randstad NV]]
|[[Consultant|Consulting]]
| style="text-align:center;" |29,126.8
| style="text-align:center;" |908.0
| style="text-align:center;" |12,552.5
| style="text-align:center;" |39,530
|[[Diemen]]
|}

== Mergers and acquisitions ==
In the Netherlands 22,484 deals were conducted between 1985 and 2018, with an overall value of 2,226.6 billion USD. The year with the most deals was 2000, with 1,169 deals. The year with the highest overall value was 2007, with almost 394.9 billion USD. However this was followed by a drastic slump during the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://imaa-institute.org/m-and-a-statistics-countries/|title=M&A Statistics by Countries - Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA)|work=Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA)|access-date=26 February 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+List of the most important acquisitions within, into and out of the Netherlands
! rowspan=2|Date announced
! colspan=3|Acquiror
! colspan=3|Target
! rowspan=2|Value of<br>transaction<br>(USD millions)
|-
! Name
! Mid-industry<br>{{clarify|date=December 2024}}
! Nation
! Name
! Mid-industry
! Nation
|-
|25 April 2007
|RFS Holdings BV
|Other Financials
|Netherlands
|ABN-AMRO Holding NV
|Banks
|Netherlands
|98,189.19
|-
|19 March 2007
|Barclays PLC
|Banks
|United Kingdom
|ABN-AMRO Holding NV
|Banks
|Netherlands
|92,606.80
|-
|28 October 2004
|Royal Dutch Petroleum Co
|Oil & Gas
|Netherlands
|Shell Transport & Trading Co
|Oil & Gas
|United Kingdom
|74,558.58
|-
|4 August 2015
|Royal Dutch Shell PLC
|Petrochemicals
|Netherlands
|BG Group PLC
|Oil & Gas
|United Kingdom
|69,445.02
|-
|2 March 2016
|CNAC Saturn (NL) BV
|Chemicals
|Netherlands
|Syngenta AG
|Chemicals
|Switzerland
|41,840.11
|-
|27 January 2006
|Mittal Steel Co NV
|Metals & Mining
|Netherlands
|Arcelor SA
|Metals & Mining
|Luxembourg
|32,240.47
|-
|3 September 2017
|PPG Industries Inc
|Chemicals
|United States
|Akzo Nobel NV
|Chemicals
|Netherlands
|26,560.76
|-
|4 August 2015
|Royal Dutch Shell PLC
|Petrochemicals
|Netherlands
|Royal Dutch Shell PLC
|Petrochemicals
|Netherlands
|25,000.00
|-
|29 September 2008
|The Netherlands
|National Government
|Netherlands
|Fortis Bank Nederland(Holding)
|Banks
|Netherlands
|23,137.31
|-
|10 April 2010
|VimpelCom Ltd
|Wireless
|Netherlands
|Weather Investments Srl
|Telecommunications Services
|Italy
|22,382.31
|}

== Caribbean Netherlands ==
* [[Economy of Bonaire]]
* [[Economy of Saba]]
* [[Economy of Sint Eustatius]]

''The wider Dutch Kingdom''
* [[Economy of Aruba]]
* [[Economy of Curacao]]
* [[Economy of Sint Maarten]]

==See also==
* [[Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]]
* [[De Nederlandsche Bank]] (Central Bank of The Netherlands)
* [[List of companies of the Netherlands]]
* [[Ministry of Finance (Netherlands)|Ministry of Finance]]
* [[Polder Model]] (Dutch version of consensus policy in economics)
* [[Social-Economic Council]] (economic advisory council of the Dutch government)
* [[Taxation in the Netherlands]]
* [[VNO-NCW]] (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers)

==Sources==
* [http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/default.htm CBS – Statistics agency of the Netherlands]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060815012100/http://www.cpb.nl/eng/ CPB – Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060718070233/http://www.dnb.nl/dnb/homepage.jsp?lang=en DNB – Dutch central bank]
* [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu Eurostat – EU statistics agency]
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/netherlands/ CIA World Factbook]
* [http://www.government.nl/issues/energy/documents-and-publications/leaflets/2012/11/21/enery-and-the-economy.html Infographic about the relationship of energy to the economy in the Netherlands.] Dutch government, 2012

==External links==
*[http://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/Country/NLD/Year/2012/Summary World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Netherlands]
*Tariffs applied by the Netherlands as provided by ITC's [http://www.macmap.org/QuickSearch/FindTariff/FindTariff.aspx?subsite=open_access&country=528&source=1|ITC Market Access Map], an online database of customs tariffs and market requirements

==Further reading==
* van Riel, Arthur. "Review: Rethinking the Economic History of the Dutch Republic: The Rise and Decline of Economic Modernity Before the Advent of Industrialized Growth," The Journal of Economic History, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Mar. 1996), pp.&nbsp;223–229 [https://www.jstor.org/pss/2124027 in JSTOR]
* de Vries, Johan. "Benelux, 1920–1970," in C. M. Cipolla, ed. ''The Fontana Economic History of Europe: Contemporary Economics Part One'' (1976) pp 1–71
* Vlekke, Bernard H. M. ''Evolution of the Dutch Nation'' (1945) 382 pp. [https://www.questia.com/read/82243176 online edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628222900/https://www.questia.com/read/82243176 |date=28 June 2011 }}
* Wintle, Michael P. ''An Economic and Social History of the Netherlands, 1800–1920: Demographic, Economic, and Social Transition'' (Cambridge University Press, 2000) [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105016141 online edition]
* van Zanden, J. L. ''The Economic History of The Netherlands 1914–1995: A Small Open Economy in the 'Long' Twentieth Century'' (Routledge, 1997) [https://www.amazon.com/Economic-History-Netherlands-1914-1995-Contemporary/dp/0415150035/  excerpt and text search]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Netherlands topics}}
{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
{{World Trade Organization}}
{{Economy of Europe}}
{{EU Dependent economies|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Economy Of The Netherlands}}
[[Category:Economy of the Netherlands| ]]<!--Please leave this article at the top of its own category as per usual practice for category defining articles.-->
[[Category:European Union member economies|Netherlands]]
[[Category:OECD member economies|Netherlands]]
[[Category:Economies of Europe by country|Netherlands]]