Economy
The Netherlands has
a healthy economy - the 16th largest in the world, in fact. Our gross domestic product (that’s the total value of goods and services) was 868,940 (in millions of USD) in 2008, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Currency
The Euro replaced the Gilder as the main form of currency in Holland on January 1st, 1999.
Industry
Food processing, metal manufacturing, chemicals and petrol refining make up the main industries in The Netherlands. Other industries include:
- Heavy engineering - producing petrochemicals and plastics, synthetic fibres and steel.
- Light industries, such as electronic goods. Philips was born in The Netherlands.
- Technological industries - computing, telecommunications and biotechnology.
- Several international household names were originally Dutch companies, like Shelland Heineken.
International Trade
Most of The Netherlands' trade happens within the European Union. Our largest trading partner is Germany, followed by Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the UK.
The Netherlands is a founding member of the Benelux Economic Union, and an investor in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Agriculture
Agriculture is an important part of The Netherlands’ economy – we rank third in the world for agricultural exports. About 2 million hectares of land in Holland is cultivated about half of which is arable land.
Land use in The Netherlands falls into three distinct regions:
- Fruit is grown in the rich marshland behind dikes and on arable land around Limburg, in the southeast.
- Livestock farming can be found in Noord-Brabant, Drenthe, Friesland and Gelderland. Milk, cheese and butter are important exports. The Netherlands is famous for its cheese, especially from Gouda, Leerdam and Alkmaar.
- Garden produce, such as potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, tomatoes and onions are grown in the west. Here, flowers and vegetables are also grown in greenhouses. The Netherlands exports one third of the world’s fresh-cut flowers and bulbs.
