Netherlands

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, fairly low unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. The Netherlands derives more than two-thirds of its gross domestic product (GDP) from merchandise trade.

Services account for more than half of the national income and are primarily in transportation, distribution, and logistics, and in financial areas such as banking and insurance. Industrial activity generates about 20 percent of the national product and is dominated by the metalworking, oil refining, chemical, and food-processing industries. Construction amounts to about 6 percent of GDP. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 2 percent of the ...