Employees skilled in conducting business with all of Europe

"Amsterdam and the Netherlands offered clear advantages over other European locations we investigated. One of the most important factors for us was the high educational and skills level of the local workforce. Wages are reasonable. And, very important for Cisco, technical knowledge is high. Another factor is language skills - English is practically a second language, and most other European languages are well-covered."
Andrew Lockhart, Cisco Systems

Many studies have shown that the availability of multilingual staff is the single most important factor for success for companies contemplating a European headquarters location. The fact is, very few places in Europe compare to the Netherlands for sheer volume of highly skilled, multilingual, business-savvy workers.

Recent surveys ranked the Netherlands first for multilingualism and third for ready availability of skilled manpower in all of Europe.

Companies with headquarters in the Netherlands will find the 99% Dutch literacy rate and fluency in English instrumental in day-to-day operations. Everyone, from custodian to CEO, reads and writes with a level of proficiency not found in many other European nations. In addition to a high comfort level with English, more than half the Dutch population speaks German fluently, and a quarter French.

Top skills

Top skills and high levels of productivity begin in Dutch schools. In fact, the entire Dutch educational system is geared towards meeting the needs of today's businesses. Unlike other European countries, the Dutch emphasize practicality and business skills in their schools and universities. There are approximately 85 Institutes of Higher Professional Education, as opposed to 10 universities of a more academic nature, in the Netherlands. And Dutch public schools rank third in Europe for overall educational level.

Flexibility and motivation

In the Netherlands, part-time employees are readily available. The Dutch are also flexible and accustomed to temporary contracts, whether long- or short-term. Flexible contracts are easy to negotiate here compared with other European countries. Wages and benefits are reasonable. Businesses benefit from the assurance that labor is ready when they need it, for as long as they need it.

Not only are Dutch workers known for their flexibility, they're also recognized throughout Europe for their motivation and dependability. Very little time is lost to labor disputes or labor relations issues as compared with Europe as a whole. A model of efficiency and dedication, the Dutch work force sets the pace for European productivity. Their available skills cover a wide range of capabilities from entry level to senior executive. These include general business administration, accounting and financial services, customer support, marketing, distribution, IT, and more. One of every ten persons works for a foreign employer.