SubscribeAre you considering locations for European headquarters?
Your European head quarters should be in a strategic location, at Europe's front door. To be able to serve your markets within the European Union as well as central and Eastern Europe, and even the Middle East and Africa.
A supportive corporate tax structure leads the way, complemented by an abundance of multilingual, multi-skilled employees and an excellent physical and telecommunications infrastructure. Combined with a good accessibility and excellent infrastructure are only some of the reasons why numerous international companies have established their European Headquarters in the Netherlands. Ranging from small to Fortune 500 leaders; examples include Starbucks Coffee, Nike, Eastman Chemical and Cisco Systems.
- Strategic location in Europe - Approximately 170 million people live within a 500-kilometre radius of the capital Amsterdam. Access to commercial centres as London, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt and Hamburg, is just a few hours' drive.
- International business environment - An international outlook and openness to foreign investment is firmly engrained in the Dutch culture, and this has yielded a wealth of world-class business partners who know how to deal with global business challenges in today's economy.
- Taxation - In the Netherlands for example, companies can find out in advance, by means of a tax ruling, the tax consequences of future transactions and investments with respect to cross-border activities. The tax rules on the internal transfer prices used by companies with their European headquarters in the Netherlands allow taxpayers to pass on the total costs of certain support services without a surcharge. Moreover the Netherlands has an extensive network of tax treaties, for the avoidance of double taxation.
- Superior logistics infrastructure - With the port of Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport the Netherlands is one of the major business hubs in Europe. The airport offers more than 200 direct connections to 82 countries. The dense well-maintained road network as well as the high-speed railway system connects you to the European hinterland.
- Up to date technology infrastructure - More than a decade of investment in high-speed Internet, cable and digital communication systems and the rapid adoption of state-of-the-art computer and mobile phone technology has created an ideal base for companies, especially in the IT sector, seeking to take advantage of the modern technology. Besides the good quality, the costs for broadband, Internet and international telephone are low.
- Highly educated, multilingual & flexible workforce - The highly educated, flexible and motivated workforce in the Netherlands contributes to your company's success in Europe. Dutch professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies across any industry - serving customers throughout the continent. The flexibility of the Dutch labour law is ensured by part-time, flexible and fixed term contracts.
- Quality of life - Your key managers will find a high standard of living in the Netherlands. The costs of living, housing, (international) education and cultural activities are lower than in most Western-European countries. There is a special tax regime for expatriates, where tax-free allowances for up to 30% of the expatriate's remuneration are available.
UK versus the Netherlands
After the United Kingdom, companies have mostly established their European Headquarters in the Netherlands. The UK is often an obvious choice for American companies, mainly due to the language or culture. The Netherlands offers you an equally compatible culture as well as closer proximity to customers. This advantage is even more important with the centre of gravity of the European economy moving eastward with the rise of Central and Eastern European countries.
In addition, a 2005 Ernst & Young study that compared European headquarters showed the Netherlands significantly outperformed the UK in both costs and benefits. In terms of specific key benefits, a direct comparison of the Netherlands vs. the UK indicates that the Netherlands is superior in terms of many relevant criteria.
| Netherlands | United Kingdom |
Transportation | 100 | 87 |
Labour Quality | 89 | 78 |
Multilingualism | 75 | 60 |
Centrality | 80 | 60 |
Business Environment | 97 | 89 |
ICT Infrastructure | 92 | 85 |
Quality of Life | 89 | 79 |
Prestige | 95 | 91 |
Triggered?
Contact the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) to help facilitate your own decision-making process. We can provide you with the up-to-the-minute comparative data on our highly skilled work force, tax issues, available office space and green field sites, key business contacts and more. Free of charge and in strict confidence.
American Management Systems
EHQ in The Hague - 80 people
A business and IT consulting company that provides enterprise-wide, end-to-end technology solutions:
“A central location, within 400 miles of half the European market, convenience for Schiphol Airport and pan-European transport systems, less expensive than some other European cities, and the benefits of the Netherlands’ pro-business climate, one of the strongest of the Continent.