Editing Netherlands (section)

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of the Netherlands}}
[[File:Economic growth of the Netherlands.jpg|thumb|Historical GDP per capita development ([[Our World in Data]])]]

Since the 16th century, shipping, fishing, agriculture, trade, and banking have been leading sectors of the Dutch economy. The Netherlands has a [[List of countries by economic freedom|high level of economic freedom]]. The Netherlands is one of the top countries in the [[Global Enabling Trade Report]] (2nd in 2016), and was ranked the fifth most competitive economy in the world by the Swiss [[International Institute for Management Development]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |first= |date=4 June 2017 |title=The 2017 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking |url=http://www.imd.org/globalassets/wcc/docs/release-2017/2017-world_competitiveness_ranking.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604200349/http://www.imd.org/globalassets/wcc/docs/release-2017/2017-world_competitiveness_ranking.pdf |archive-date=4 June 2017 |access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> The country was ranked the 8th most innovative nation in the world in the 2024 [[Global Innovation Index]] down from 2nd in 2018.<ref>{{Cite book |author=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |page=18 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2}}</ref><ref>Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO (2018): The Global Innovation Index 2018: Energizing the World with Innovation. Ithaca, Fontainebleau and Geneva</ref>

{{As of|2020}}, the key trading partners of the Netherlands were Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Italy, China and Russia.<ref name="cia-worldfactbook-nl"/> The Netherlands is one of the world's 10 leading exporting countries. Foodstuffs form the largest industrial sector. Other major industries include chemicals, metallurgy, machinery, electrical goods, trade, services and tourism. Examples of international Dutch companies operating in the Netherlands include [[Randstad NV]], [[Heineken International|Heineken]], [[KLM]], financial services ([[ING Group|ING]], [[ABN AMRO]], [[Rabobank]]), chemicals ([[DSM (company)|DSM]], [[AkzoNobel|AKZO]]), petroleum refining ([[Shell plc]]), electronic machinery ([[Philips]], [[ASML Holding|ASML]]), and satellite navigation ([[TomTom]]).
[[File:Haven van Rotterdam 2023 (06).jpg|thumb|The [[Port of Rotterdam]] is Europe's largest port.]]

The Netherlands has the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|17th-largest economy in the world]], and [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|ranks 11th in GDP (nominal) per capita]]. The Netherlands has low income inequality, but wealth inequality is relatively high.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bavel |first1=Bas Van |last2=Frankema |first2=Ewout |date=22 June 2017 |title=Wealth Inequality in the Netherlands, c. 1950–2015. The Paradox of a Northern European Welfare State |url=https://tseg.nl/article/view/8184 |journal=TSEG – the Low Countries Journal of Social and Economic History |language=en |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=29–62 |doi=10.18352/tseg.916 |issn=2468-9068|doi-access=free}}</ref> Despite ranking 11th in [[GDP per capita]], [[UNICEF]] ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being in rich countries, both in 2007 and in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-dutch-kids-are-the-happiest-in-the-world-2017-04-05 |title=This is why Dutch kids are much happier than American children|first=Barbara |last=Chai|newspaper=Marketwatch|access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf|title=Child Poverty in Perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries|date=2007|publisher=UNICEF |access-date=14 September 2007|archive-date=3 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903184146/https://www.unicef.org/media/files/ChildPovertyReport.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/rc11_eng.pdf |title=Child well-being in rich countries — UNICEF |date=2013|website=Unicef-irc.org|access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref>

[[Amsterdam]] is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.<ref name="ez">{{cite web|url=http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205161807/http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?menu=24&page=6 |archive-date=5 December 2008 |title=Amsterdam – Economische Zaken |language=nl |access-date=22 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Amsterdam Stock Exchange]] (AEX), part of [[Euronext]], is the world's oldest stock exchange and is one of Europe's largest bourses. As a founding member of the [[euro]], the Netherlands replaced (for accounting purposes) its former currency, the "gulden" ([[Dutch guilder|guilder]]), on 1 January 1999. Actual [[euro coins]] and [[Euro banknotes|banknotes]] followed on 1 January 2002. One euro was equivalent to 2.20371 Dutch guilders. In the [[Caribbean Netherlands]], the United States dollar is used instead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memorie van toelichting – Regels met betrekking tot het geldstelsel van de openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (Wet geldstelsel BES) – Parlementaire monitor |url=https://www.parlementairemonitor.nl/9353000/1/j9vvij5epmj1ey0/viahe0d72fyt |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=parlementairemonitor.nl}}</ref> The Netherlands is a "conduit country" that helps to funnel profits from high-tax countries to tax havens.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schindler |first=Dirk |date=28 January 2022 |title=Is the Netherlands Still a Tax Haven? |url=https://www.eur.nl/en/news/netherlands-still-tax-haven |access-date=2 April 2023 |publisher=Erasmus University Rotterdam |quote=}}</ref> It has been ranked as the 4th largest tax haven in the world.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021 |title=Corporate Tax Haven Index |url=https://cthi.taxjustice.net/en/cthi/cthi-2021-results |access-date=2 April 2023 |publisher=Tax Justice Network |quote=}}</ref>

[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|left|The Netherlands is part of a monetary union, the [[eurozone]] (dark blue), and the [[Internal Market (European Union)|EU single market]].]]
The Dutch location gives it prime access to markets in the United Kingdom and Germany, with the [[Port of Rotterdam]] being the largest port in Europe. Other important parts of the economy are [[international trade]], banking and transport. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. Amsterdam is the 5th-busiest tourist destination in Europe, with more than 4.2&nbsp;million international visitors.<ref name="42milvisitors">{{cite web|url=http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?page=9&menu=27 |title=Amsterdam en de wereld: Toerisme en congreswezen |access-date=15 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215160103/http://www.ez.amsterdam.nl/page.php?page=9&menu=27 |archive-date=15 February 2009}}. ez.amsterdam.nl</ref> Since the enlargement of the EU, large numbers of [[migrant worker]]s have arrived in the Netherlands from [[Central Europe|Central]] and Eastern Europe.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-dutch-immigrants-idUKTRE8191ML20120210 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101082733/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-dutch-immigrants-idUKTRE8191ML20120210 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 January 2016 |title=Dutch allow Wilders' anti-Pole website, EU critical |publisher=Reuters |date=10 February 2012 |first=Gilbert |last=Kreijger}}</ref>

The Netherlands continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment and is one of the five largest investors in the United States. The economy experienced a slowdown in 2005, but in 2006 recovered to the fastest pace in six years on the back of increased exports and strong investment. The pace of job growth reached 10-year highs in 2007. The Netherlands is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]]'s [[Global Competitiveness Report]].<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014}}</ref>

===Energy===
[[File:Natural gas NL.png|thumb|Natural gas concessions in the Netherlands. The Netherlands accounts for more than 25% of all natural gas reserves in the EU.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oecd.org/fossil-fuels/publication/2020-OECD-IEA-review-of-fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-the-Netherlands.pdf|title=The Netherlands's Effort to Phase Out and Rationalise its Fossil-Fuel Subsidies}}</ref>]]
[[File:Wildervank natural gas field.jpg|thumb|The [[Groningen gas field]], whose discovery in 1959 transformed the Dutch economy, is one of the largest [[natural-gas field]]s in the world.]]

Beginning in the 1950s, the Netherlands discovered huge [[natural gas]] resources. The sale of natural gas generated enormous revenues for the Netherlands for decades, adding, over sixty years, hundreds of billions of euros to the government's budget,<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl">{{cite news|url=http://vorige.nrc.nl//international/article2274261.ece/The_Dutch_curse_how_billions_from_natural_gas_went_up_in_smoke|title=The Dutch curse: how billions from natural gas went up in smoke|date=17 June 2009|newspaper=[[NRC Handelsblad]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221000129/http://vorige.nrc.nl//international/article2274261.ece/The_Dutch_curse_how_billions_from_natural_gas_went_up_in_smoke |archive-date=21 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> about 1.5% of GNP. However, the unforeseen consequences of the country's huge energy wealth impacted the competitiveness of other sectors of the economy, leading to the theory of [[Dutch disease]].<ref name="vorige.nrc.nl"/> The field is operated by government-owned [[Gasunie]] and output is jointly exploited by the government, [[Royal Dutch Shell]], and [[ExxonMobil]]. Gas production caused earthquakes which damaged housing. After a large public backlash, the government decided to [[Fossil fuel phase-out|phase out gas production]] from the field.<ref name=":4">{{cite report|title=The Netherlands 2020: Energy Policy Review|publisher=[[International Energy Agency]]|date=September 2020|url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/93f03b36-64a9-4366-9d5f-0261d73d68b3/The_Netherlands_2020_Energy_Policy_Review.pdf|page=11}}</ref>

The Netherlands has made notable progress in its [[Energy transition|transition]] to a [[carbon-neutral economy]]. Thanks to increasing [[Energy conservation|energy efficiency]], energy demand shows signs of decoupling from economic growth. The share of energy from [[Renewable energy|renewable sources]] doubled from 2008 to 2019, with especially strong growth in [[Offshore wind power|offshore wind]] and [[Rooftop solar power|rooftop solar]]. However, the Netherlands remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels and has a concentration of energy- and emission-intensive industries that will not be easy to decarbonise. Its [[Klimaatakkoord|2019 Climate Agreement]] defines policies and measures to support the achievement of Dutch climate targets and was developed through a collaborative process involving parties from across Dutch society.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/93f03b36-64a9-4366-9d5f-0261d73d68b3/The_Netherlands_2020_Energy_Policy_Review.pdf |title=The Netherlands 2020: Energy Policy Review |date=September 2020 |publisher=[[International Energy Agency]] |page=3}} [[File:CC_BY_icon.svg|50x50px|class=noviewer]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [[creativecommons:by/4.0/|Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]]</ref> As of 2018, the Netherlands had one of the highest rates of [[carbon dioxide]] emissions per person in the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018 |title=Fossil CO2 emissions of all world countries – 2018 Report |url=https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/fossil-co2-emissions-all-world-countries-2018-report |access-date=21 October 2019 |publisher=EU Science Hub}}</ref>

===Agriculture and natural resources===

The Netherlands' [[biocapacity]] totals only 0.8 global hectares per person in 2016, 0.2 of which are dedicated to agriculture.<ref name=footprintdata>{{cite web |url=http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/countryTrends?cn=150&type=BCpc,EFCpc |title=Country Trends |publisher=Global Footprint Network |access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref> The Dutch biocapacity per person is just about half of the 1.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person available worldwide.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lin|first1=David|last2=Hanscom|first2=Laurel|last3=Murthy|first3=Adeline|last4=Galli|first4=Alessandro|last5=Evans|first5=Mikel|last6=Neill|first6=Evan|last7=Mancini|first7=Maria Serena|last8=Martindill|first8=Jon|last9=Medouar|first9=Fatime-Zahra|last10=Huang|first10=Shiyu|last11=Wackernagel|first11=Mathis|date=2018|title=Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 2012–2018|journal=Resources|language=en|volume=7|issue=3|pages=58|doi=10.3390/resources7030058|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018Resou...7...58L }}</ref> In contrast, in 2016, the Dutch used on average 4.8 global hectares of biocapacity – their [[ecological footprint]] of consumption. As a result, the Netherlands was running a biocapacity deficit of 4.0 global hectares per person in 2016.<ref name=footprintdata/> The Dutch waste more food than any other EU citizen, at over three times the EU average.<ref>{{cite web |date=2017 |title=Food waste: the problem in the EU in numbers |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20170505STO73528/food-waste-the-problem-in-the-eu-in-numbers-infographic |access-date=18 January 2021 |publisher=EU parliament}}</ref>

The Dutch agricultural sector is highly mechanised, and has a strong focus on international exports. It employs about 4% of the Dutch labour force but produces large surpluses in the food-processing industry and accounts for 21% of the Dutch total export value.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollandalumni.nl/files/documents/career/factsheets-key-sectors/factsheet-agri-food|title=Factsheet Agri-food: Holland is a world-leading supplier of sustainable, healthy, agri-food products|website=Hollandalumni.nl|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010141804/https://www.hollandalumni.nl/files/documents/career/factsheets-key-sectors/factsheet-agri-food|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Dutch rank first in the European Union and second worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind only the United States,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Farming in the Netherlands: Polder and wiser |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2014/08/23/polder-and-wiser |newspaper=The Economist |location=Sevenum |date=23 August 2014 |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220820140512/https://www.economist.com/business/2014/08/23/polder-and-wiser |archive-date=2022-08-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> with agricultural exports earning €80.7&nbsp;billion in 2014,<ref name="government.nl">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.nl/news/2015/01/16/dutch-agricultural-exports-top-80-billion-euros.html |title=Dutch agricultural exports top 80 billion Euros |date=16 January 2015}}</ref> up from €75.4&nbsp;billion in 2012.<ref name="hollandtrade.com"/> In 2019 agricultural exports were worth €94.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2020/01/17/dutch-agricultural-exports-worth-%E2%82%AC94.5-billion-in-2019|title=Dutch agricultural exports worth €94.5 billion in 2019 |first=Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit|last=Ministerie van Landbouw|date=17 January 2020|website=government.nl}}</ref> In an effort to reduce [[agricultural pollution]], the Dutch government is imposing strict limits on the productivity of the farming sector, triggering [[Dutch farmers' protests]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.nujournal.com/news/agribusiness/2022/07/08/explainer-why-are-dutch-farmers-protesting-over-emissions/
|title=Why are Dutch farmers protesting over emissions?
|last=Corder
|first=Mike
|date=8 July 2022
|website=The Journal
|access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>

One-third of the world's exports of [[Capsicum|chilis]], tomatoes, and [[cucumber]]s go through the country. The Netherlands exports one-fifteenth of the world's apples.<ref name="USDA Foreign Agriculture Service"/> A significant portion of Dutch agricultural exports consists of fresh-cut plants, flowers, and flower bulbs, with the Netherlands exporting two-thirds of the world's total.<ref name="USDA Foreign Agriculture Service">{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200501/146118432.pdf#search=%22netherlands%20main%20agriculture%20export%20flowers%22|title=Netherlands: Agricultural situation|access-date=20 June 2007|publisher=USDA Foreign Agriculture Service|archive-date=19 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619213352/http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200501/146118432.pdf#search=%22netherlands%20main%20agriculture%20export%20flowers%22|url-status=dead}}</ref>