Nation Building, Dutch style

The Netherlands is often referred to as ‘Holland’. In fact, ‘Holland’ is much more then that. ‘Holland’ is a brand. A strong brand representing many historic, cultural, demographic, political and economic features unique to this small yet influential country.

Dutch highlights

• Shaping our environment
• Becoming an economic giant

Demography

• 16 554 448 people in August 2009
• Average density 484/km², only lower than Vatican and Bangladesh

Dutch cultural traits

• Open minded, international, and entrepreneurial
• Co-operative and inclusive
• Pragmatic and resourceful

Dutch icons

• Abel Tasman (eplorer and merchant)
• Rembrandt van Rijn (influential painter and etcher)
• Rem Koolhaas (world-leading architect)
• Viktor and Rolf (extravagant designers)

Stable democracy & active global citizen

• Founding member of EU, active member of NATO
• The Hague legal capital of the world

International trade

• Exports show high growth rates
• Europe’s third, possibly second, exporter after Germany and France
• Per capita exports three time EU-15 average

Innovation and R&D

• World-class institutes and public-private programmes
• Life Sciences and Health innovation programme
• Independent giants like TNO and Philips Research   

Sustainability, energy and climate change
Our vision for sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system

• C0² emissions cut in half
• 40% of electricity generated using sustainable sources
• 60% of energy from gas, nuclear, coal plants (using CCS)