The Location

Venlo region, in the south-east of the Netherlands



Asian companies landing in Europe can take advantage of the business environment in the Netherlands.

Why choose the Netherlands as your base for European business?

1. Strategic location in Europe.

2. International business environment.

3. Superior logistics and technology infrastructure.

4. Favourable fiscal climate.

5. Highly educated, multilingual and flexible workforce.

6. Excellent quality of life.

The Netherlands provides a strategic location to serve markets within Europe. The central geographical position of the Netherlands, the accessibility and the excellent infrastructure are only some of the reasons why numerous Asian companies have established their facilities in the Netherlands.

Figure (Source: LIOF). Venlo region has a strategic location within Europe. The Blue Banana is a discontinuous corridor of urbanisation in Western Europe, with a population of around 110 million. The highest concentration of people, money and industry in Europe.

The Netherlands, with its long history of strong relationships with Asian countries, is an obvious choice as a location for pan-European operations. The country's international outlook and openness to foreign investment create a gateway to Europe that helps Asian companies succeed throughout the continent. It is a stable country with a mindset of creativity, collaboration and reliability, making it an excellent base for growth and innovation.

The Port of Rotterdam is Europe's largest and most important seaport. An excellent infrastructure of roads, railways and waterways makes distribution fast and easy. Customs authorities are practical and take a pro-active approach. Advanced customs systems for import, storage and transport ensure fast procedures. 

The Dutch tax system has a number of features that may be very beneficial in international tax planning. These include a corporate income tax rate which is lower compared with other Western European countries.

Other benefits include: Value Added Tax deferment system, R&D activities: Innovationbox, Tax-free reimbursement on 30% of employee's salary. 

The Netherlands features one of the most highly educated, flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Dutch professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world. Dutch law offers employers a range of contract possibilities to hire employees in a flexible way.

The Netherlands is proud to have a high standard of living and it maintains an affordable lifestyle for its citizens and foreign residents.

The Venlo region is the hotspot for a strategic base to cover Europe

The city of Venlo and its surroundings is the place to be:

V alue adding to your products/services;

E ngineering your business environment;

N ew sustainable innovations;

L ogistic hotspot;

O rganised & well-managed.

The Venlo region is the number 1 logistic hotspot in the Netherlands, an award it has received several times. Venlo is the third most important logistic hub in the Netherlands after Rotterdam and Amsterdam (Schiphol Amsterdam Airport).

Because of Venlo's location on the border with Germany it offers easy access to the main German industrial zone (Ruhrgebiet) and a consumer market of 37 million people within a radius of 150 km. Venlo is only 50 km away from the German city of Düsseldorf with its international business centres, international schools, Asian communities and international airport (18 direct flights to Asia and 130 destinations in Europe).

The advantages to the Venlo region are:

• Perfect infrastructure due to rail connections with the transportation hubs of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Antwerp. A barge terminal and good road connections.
• Strong network of logistic service providers.
• More than 1.5 million square metres of warehouse space. Lower price for land space.
• Strong in agricultural business and the manufacturing industry.
• New industrial zone Trade Port North: 230 ha. under development.
• Several Master's degree programmes in Supply Chain Management and Logistics on the Venlo Campus of Maastricht University and Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Yearly hosting for new Asian students.
• The workforce is sociable, loyal and flexible. Most of the workers speak both English and German.
• Companies from Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, India and Singapore are already in the Venlo region.

The Venlo region is also:

• fast-growing and innovative (Cradle to Cradle).
• introducing new education programmes and attracting more international students.
• in a quiet, safe, attractive and green environment.
• a lively cultural and historical region, with many possibilities for relaxing and engaging in leisure activities, like casino, spa & massage etc.
• relatively inexpensive when it comes to cost of living, housing, education and cultural activities.
• close to other attractive cities like Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Maastricht and Roermond (famous brands outlet shopping center). 

Figure (Source: Floriade 2012). Venlo region: excellent infrastructure and close to big cities and airports.

The strong sectors in Venlo region are:

• Agriculture / Food Processing   
• Manufacturing Industry / Product Assembly 
• Logistics / Warehousing & Distribution / Supply Chain Management / E-fulfilment / Value Added Logistics for:

Fast moving (consumer) goods;

Heavy weight cargo (metal, steel, paper);

Volume cargo (car parts, white goods, appliances);

Raw materials / plastics (resins, powder, liquids);

Chemicals (hazardous goods);

Health care / medical / pharmaceuticals;

High value products (electronics, IT & communication hardware);

Food (cooled, frozen, packed);

Fashion & clothing (hanging);

Printing & documents;

Project / exceptional cargo (machinery, equipment).

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