Internationally focused, diverse and sophisticated

"Since we service 14 countries in Europe, we looked for a place where we could find employees who are used to dealing with different cultures... around 40% of our employees come from abroad. Fortunately, Amsterdam is a very attractive city... We have no problem getting our staff to move here. And they generally enjoy their stay here very much."
David O'Sullivan, Director, Reuters Business Service Centre

The Netherlands is a historically open culture. Its international orientation and excellent tax and business climates mean foreign businesses integrate easily here. As a civilization, the Dutch are entrepreneurial, tolerant and co-operative - just a few of the many common values they share with U.S. society.

In fact, the continuous relationship between the nations dates back to the American Revolution. Today, that friendship embraces everything from international affairs, human rights and individual freedom to economic and commercial ties. The Netherlands is the second-largest direct foreign investor in the U.S. and the U.S. is the largest direct foreign investor in the Netherlands. More than 4.5 million Americans are of Dutch ancestry and Dutch parent companies employ more than 650,000 Americans.

The Netherlands also offers a high quality of living. Commercial real estate, offices, housing, food and consumer goods are reasonably priced. The cost of education and cultural activities is lower than in many other European nations. The Netherlands has the sixth largest economy in the EU and contributes nearly five percent to its GDP. At the same time, it retains an inviting, communal atmosphere, especially in its city centers, where bikes are the main form of transportation. Open, rural land is never far away from office buildings and cities.