Doing Business with the Netherlands and Dutch Business Culture

Doing Business with the Netherlands and Dutch Business Culture

[4-min read]

What You Will Learn:

• Some basic facts about the Netherlands and the Dutch.
• Dutch business culture compared to the surrounding countries.
• Practical tips on doing business with the Netherlands.
• The difference between the Netherlands and Holland.

Let’s Start With the Last Point: Holland versus the Netherlands

In this hilarious 4-minute video, the differences between what is meant by the Netherlands and Holland are well explained:

Basic Facts About the Netherlands

• The Netherlands is also known as Holland and is part of the Low Countries or Low Lands.
• Population 18+ million (2024 estimate).
• Area 41,543 square kilometers (16,040 square miles).
• GDP (according to the IMF): $912,899 (only preceded by Spain, Italy, UK, France & Germany in Europe)

Why does GDP get a place in the basic facts? Because we’re talking about doing business with the Netherlands. Should you want to know more facts and figures, check out this link.

Dutch Business Culture

When we’re looking at the first four primary dimensions of culture the Dutch score as follows, compared with a couple of other countries in the world.

As you can see in this short sample, only Sweden follows the same cultural pattern as the Dutch do. All the other countries differ in one or more dimensions.

So, is doing business with the Netherlands comparable to doing business in Sweden (or Nordic culture in general)?

The answer is yes; Dutch business culture is very comparable with Nordic business culture.

Let’s go over each dimension and see what the impact is on doing business in the Netherlands.

Hierarchy

In the Netherlands, the boss is only functionally different from his subordinates. It is normal and easy to approach your boss and usually, there is a so-called open-door policy, making your boss readily available for questions you might have.

In general, the Dutch are born with an “authority conflict“; meaning that anything that “smells” of a hierarchical discrepancy is disliked. In addition, if the boss puts a request to one of his/her subordinates, it is often met with the question “Why?“.

Loyalty (or Individualism)

The Dutch score is high on this dimension. Comparable to other West European countries. They are very individualistic and many things are organized around their agenda; A spontaneous meetup is generally rare.

The Dutch business culture is very task-driven and a lot less relationship-driven compared to India and China. This might make them seem superficial in more collectivistic cultures. Within the work context, this means that a lot is done “by the clock“.

Goal Orientation

Doing business with the Netherlands and the Dutch is much more Process-driven than it is Goal-oriented, as it is in the other countries in the table above (except for Sweden).

One important implication is that Dutch business culture doesn’t know any “heroes” or people that “stick out“; either on a company/organization level or in general in Dutch society. A famous Dutch saying is “Just act normal, that is crazy enough” (doe maar gewoon, dat is gek genoeg).

Predictability

A score in the middle. This means that the Dutch like a certain amount of structure and rules, but also not too many.

Dutch Business Culture and Some General Points

• The main task of a Dutch manager is to make sure that his subordinates enjoy their work and workplace.
• When doing business with the Dutch, don’t brag about yourself, your product, or your company. The Dutch don’t like that.
• Rules are seen as general guidelines and not as strict rules as they would be in Germany.
• Big is not necessarily Better.
• The Dutch have an opinion about everything. Even if they do not have an opinion.
• Authority is frowned upon.
• Too much positive feedback is seen as suspicious.

Conclusion about Dutch Business Culture

Doing business with the Netherlands is generally seen as easy and transparent. Also when it comes to official rules and regulations. Dutch business culture is different from other cultures in the world, except for the Nordic countries.

If you want to be successful it makes sense to prepare yourself.

Want to read other articles that might be helpful?

• Nordic Culture
• Doing business in China
• Doing business in India
• Working with the Germans
• Business between the Netherlands and Belgium (in Dutch)
• Why do the Belgians hate the Dutch so much

Should you want to read an article on cultural similarities that can lead to cultural difficulties, read this case study.

Read an article about the Euregio here (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany).

An article about Dutch culture can be found here.

Why you will find the Dutch everywhere.

Here are some other articles that are country-specific:

• Doing business in China
• Doing business in France
• Doing business in India

An article about Dutch versus American culture can be found here.

A dedicated post on the Belgian management style can be found here.

Another article about Belgian culture can be found here.

Doing business with the Netherlands on Culture Matters.