Country profile
Netherlands
Europe's main trade gateway through the port of Rotterdam, exporting machinery, electronics, fuels and pharmaceuticals, much of it re-exported.
Updated 10 November 2026. Sources at the bottom of the page.
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Population
- 18.1 million (2025)
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- GDP, 2026
- US$1.42 trillion
- Exports, 2025
- US$989.7 billion
- Exchange rate
- 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (9 Nov 2026)
Economy
IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026. 2026 and 2027 are IMF projections.
1.5%Real GDP growth, 2026
1.3%Real GDP growth, 2027
2.9%Inflation, 2026
4%Unemployment, 2026
45.4% of GDPGovernment debt, 2026
8.3% of GDPCurrent account, 2026
Trade
Top export markets
Share of the country’s exports, 2025
- Germany (22.4%)
- Belgium (10.5%)
- France (7.9%)
- United Kingdom (5.8%)
- United States (4.9%)
Main exports
Product groups, share of exports
- Machinery, including computers (15.2%)
- Electrical machinery and equipment (12.6%)
- Mineral fuels, including oil (11.6%)
- Pharmaceuticals (7.7%)
- Optical, technical and medical apparatus (5.9%)
Main trade agreements
- EU single market
- EU agreements including CETA (Canada), EU–Japan, EU–Korea, EU–Mexico and EU–Vietnam
- EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Trade policy to watch
- EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): in its definitive phase since 1 January 2026 for imports into the EU of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
- EU trade policy: no tariffs inside the EU; trade with non-EU countries is set at EU level.
- Semiconductor equipment export controls: the Netherlands requires licences to export advanced chipmaking equipment, which affects exports to China.
Energy
Natural gas and oil are the largest energy sources. The Groningen gas field closed in 2024, so the Netherlands now imports most of its gas. Wind and solar produce about half of its electricity.
What it means for your supply chain
- Many goods shipped from the Netherlands are made elsewhere; check the country of origin, not just the shipping point.
- Rotterdam is a common entry point to the EU, so EU customs and CBAM rules often apply there.
- The Netherlands is a key source for semiconductor equipment, chemicals and food processing machinery.
Sources
- IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026: GDP, growth, inflation, unemployment, government debt, current account (2026 and 2027 are projections).
- World Bank: population (2025).
- World’s Top Exports, 2025: export markets and main exports.
- Bank of Canada, daily exchange rates, 9 November 2026 (cross rates calculated from CAD rates).
- Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy 2026: energy profile.
- European Commission, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Figures are the latest published at the time of the update and may since have been revised. This page is for general information, not investment or legal advice.