Hello Holland!

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| Economy, Trade & Agriculture
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400,000,000
Every year, four hundred million tonnes of goods arrive
at the Port of Rotterdam to be transferred to other
freighters, inland shipping or trucks. The magazine in
your hands was probably shipped via Rotterdam.
Fruit and veg from the hothouse
Rows of greenhouses as far as the eye can see, another typically Dutch
scene. The first commercial greenhouses were built in the Netherlands
around 1850, when it was discovered that plants grow faster in
continuous light and an environment with a constant temperature.
The quality of the greenhouses gradually improved over the years. The
first official standards for greenhouses were drawn up in the 1970s,
in consultation with pioneers from industry. And modelling has led to
constant improvement. With over 10,000 hectares of greenhouses,
the Netherlands now has more than any other country in the world.
Source: Keppel Verolme
Illustrious shipbuilder from the Netherlands
Industrialist and shipbuilding magnate Cornelis Verolme (1900-1981) was
the Netherlands’ greatest shipbuilder. His yard, Verolme United Shipyards,
built the biggest ships. One would break the record for biggest Dutch ship,
the next for biggest ship ever built in Holland. For Verolme, it was always a
matter of big, bigger, biggest. A man with great charisma, and great plans.
These days Keppel Verolme (KV) is part of Keppel Offshore & Marine of
Singapore, a global market leader in the building and repair of offshore
platforms and specialist ships
Source: ECT
Source: FloraHolland
Photo: Rob Verhorst/Hollandse Hoogte
Source: NL Agency
Around a quarter of total exports by value go to Germany, and another quarter
The Netherlands is the world’s biggest flower exporter, even though some of them
Every year, Dutch musicians’ foreign sales climb even higher. André Rieu, Tiësto and
Machines for producing solar panels are not the first thing that comes to mind when
to the rest of Europe. This is followed by Africa, at 20%. Exports to Asia are
are grown abroad. Chinese trade delegations show particular interest in our profitable
Ferry Corsten are top Dutch exports, and several Dutch DJs – Laidback Luke and
you’re thinking about Dutch exports. But masses of these machines are being
currently running at 15%, and to North and South America at slightly over 10%.
flower trade. Our knowledge of logistics and the global trade in flowers remain
Marco V, for example – are rising stars on the foreign club scene. Rock band Within
exported to China. Dutch manufacturer OTB Solar has almost tripled its turnover as a
unparalleled, however.
Temptation is doing particularly well abroad.
result of the huge demand.
Say cheese!
Holland and cheese. An inseparable combination. The Dutch have been
exporting cheese since the Middle Ages. The best known are Edam
and Gouda, which have enjoyed protected status since 2010. Only the
cheese made here may be called ‘Gouda Holland’ or ‘Edam Holland’,
and it also carries a quality label. Cheese manufacturers in the rest of
the world may only use the words ‘Gouda’ and ‘Edam’. Most Edam and
Gouda cheese is in fact made in Poland and Germany, and quite a lot is
produced in New Zealand and the United States.
Photo: Nationale Beeldbank
Kids’ TV news as
export product
Since 2004 Kids News Network has
been exporting the kids’ TV news show
Jeugdjournaal to developing countries.
The show, which has been running for 29
years in the Netherlands, is unique. Fellow
programme-makers in developing countries
are given 18 months’ training in how to
produce their own programme. The idea is
that kids who are given truthful information
will pass it on to others. In developing
countries, 40% of the population are aged
15 or under; the figure in the Netherlands is
15%. The concept has now been ‘exported’
to Suriname, Peru, South Africa, Indonesia,
Zambia, Burma and the Antilles. It is up to
local programme-makers to decide on the
content of the programme, as long as it fits
into the basic concept.
Tulip mania
A bunch of tulips in a Dutch shop will cost you around three euros these
days. A far cry from the 17th century, when the tulip was all the rage. At
the height of the ‘tulip mania’, the bulbs fetched eye-watering prices.
One was sold for 5,400 guilders, which at that time would have bought
you a magnificent canalside property in the heart of Amsterdam.
2002 On 1 January 2002 the
euro was introduced in 12 European Union
member states, Monaco, San Marino and
Vatican City. Many Dutch people were sad to
say goodbye to their old currency, the guilder.
Source: Rijksmuseum Photoservice