The Dutch business climate and culture
The Netherlands is an attractive place to do business. It has an international focus, excellent physical and digital infrastructure, and a well-educated and often multilingual workforce. The Netherlands also offers a good quality of life. Read more about doing business in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands as a place to do business
The Netherlands is a popular choice for foreign businesses, including multinationals. The Netherlands’ strategic location in Western Europe makes it ideal for businesses that want to expand their activities across the continent. It has one of the world’s most open economies. The Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Ranking 2026 places the Netherlands as the 8th most competitive economy in the world. The Netherlands also ranks highly in the EU Regional Competitiveness Index, which scores regions according to how attractive and sustainable they are for both companies and residents to live and work. Innovation is also thriving. In 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranked the Netherlands as the world’s 7th most innovative economy.
Quality of life
As well as being a good place to do business, the Netherlands offers a good quality of life, ranking at number 7 in the UN World Happiness Report 2026. The Dutch standard of living is high. The OECD’s Better Life Index measures well-being and quality of life in different countries. The Netherlands scores highly in the areas of work, life satisfaction, work-life balance, and civic engagement.
Business opportunities and support
The Netherlands offers a competitive business environment. The corporate income tax rate is currently 19% on profits up to €200,000 and 25.8% on taxable profits above that. There are also tax schemes available to stimulate business growth, innovation, and sustainability. These include incentives for both entrepreneurs and SMEs and for large companies. There are many highly educated foreign workers in the Netherlands, and the highly skilled migrant residence permit means companies have a clear path to recruit international talent, also from outside the EU.
The expat scheme
The Netherlands offers the expat scheme for highly skilled migrants. This is a tax advantage with which they can receive up to 30% of their income tax-free. In the coming years, the percentage of this tax measure will change. Find out more about the expat scheme.
Key sectors
The Dutch government invests in key sectors. These are focus areas for business, such as High Tech, IT, Life Sciences and Health, Agrifood, and the Chemical Industry. Businesses in these sectors may benefit from dedicated innovation ecosystems, partnerships, and support programmes.
Startup ecosystem
The Dutch residence permit for foreign startups makes it easier for innovative entrepreneurs to start a business in the Netherlands. Startups can also benefit from a broad support network of incubators, accelerators, investors, and business support organisations. Some initiatives operate nationwide, such as Techleap.nl, while others focus on specific regions or sectors.
What you need to know about Dutch business culture
The Dutch business climate is progressive. Reliability, punctuality, and honesty are highly valued in the workplace. The Dutch like to get things done, so structure and planning are often important elements of business strategy. Dutch society is relatively egalitarian and accepting of difference. This is reflected in the horizontal hierarchy and informal workplace culture found in most companies. Dutch employees are often expected to work independently.
Formalities
Communication between colleagues is often informal. Men and women are generally treated equally. The Dutch style of communication is very direct, with people often quick to express their opinions. This can come across as rude to some foreigners. When it comes to introducing yourself to others, the most common way of greeting is a handshake. Depending on your job title and the occasion, dress codes usually range from business casual to formal.
More information
Learn more about the Dutch culture and business climate by reading our page about Dutch life and personal matters for basic information about living in the Netherlands.
Other resources
- To find out more about the ways in which the Netherlands contributes to global developments in sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurship, check out the NL Platform pages.
- Dutch scientific and tech sectors are thriving, there is a collaborative culture, and companies make special efforts to support international employees. If this appeals to you, visit Welcome to NL. This platform offers information on everything from employment to family life.
- Government.nl offers a checklist to make sure you do not forget to arrange any personal matters when moving to the Netherlands.