![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sms-bridges.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/NL21-Lead-photo-1-1-1024x1024.jpg\")
The country\u2019s strong partnership with Japan continues to go from strength to strength and the Netherlands remains highly attractive for Japanese investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cApproximately 600 Japanese companies are based in the Netherlands,\u201d said H.E. Ambassador Hidehisa Horinouchi. \u201cAfter Brexit (the \u2018British exit\u2019 that saw the U.K. leave the European Union), the number of companies relocating to the Netherlands has been growing and therefore the importance of the Netherlands as a business hub in Europe is increasing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Netherlands and Japan share a close bond in terms of business, culture and people-to-people exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople from Japan and the Netherlands share common values and commonalities,\u201d said Hideaki Takase<\/a><\/strong>, chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Netherlands. \u201cJapan and the Netherlands are small countries and each economy leverages their commercial endeavors. Both our peoples are highly educated and our 400-year history is a factor in keeping our strong relationship moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The historical ties between the two countries continue today and culture, trade and food are an important part of the Netherlands-Japan relationship. Today, the Dutch economy is driven by innovative new industries and traditional businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Netherlands and Japan have a long-standing relationship during which they have influenced each other in terms of business, people, culture and cuisine,\u201d said Hokkai Suisan<\/a><\/strong> owner Marinus Noordenbos. \u201cThe Dutch are inspired by Japanese food culture and as a leading supplier of traditionally prepared Japanese fish products since 1993, Hokkai Suisan is proud to share the wonderful flavors of Japanese cuisine with our customers in the Netherlands and across Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHistorically the trade relationship between Japan and The Netherlands is an interesting one,\u201d said Bart Jan Koopman<\/a><\/strong>, Director at evofenedex. \u201cIn 1600 under the direction of Jacob Quaeckernaeck, the first Dutch ship reached Japan. Of the fleet of five ships that left Rotterdam two years before, Quackernaeck’s ship \u201cDe Liefde\u201d (The Love) was the only ship to dock in Japan. This event was the beginning of a unique trade relationship between the Netherlands and Japan, in which the Netherlands was the only Western country to trade with Japan for two centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEstablished on the artificial island of Deshima off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, the historical relationship between Japan and the Netherlands is over four centuries old,\u201d said Christa de Kemp-Everts<\/a><\/strong>, Managing Director of Dujat (Dutch and Japanese Trade Federation). \u201cIn recent years, the island was beautifully restored by the Japanese government. Dujat is a non-profit organization which was established in 1984 to improve the trade balance between the Netherlands and Japan. Dujat started with only twelve members. Today we have more than 150 members and the networking function has become the most important part of our member services. As an increasing number of Japanese companies are investing in the Netherlands, we expect to play an increasingly important role in the Netherlands \u2013 Japan relationship in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Netherlands ability to attract investment from Japan is well documented and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency is committed to ‘Rolling out the Orange Carpet’<\/a><\/strong> in order to assist Japanese companies coming to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, we are here to help Japanese companies settle in the Netherlands,\u201d said Hans Kuijpers<\/a><\/strong>, Director Investment Projects, Americas and NE Asia. \u201cWe focus on providing a high level of service, which itself is a very Japanese concept. As a team, our goal is to get companies settled as quickly and comfortably as possible. As Japan is some 10,000 kilometres distant from the Netherlands, it is quite a big step for them to come to Europe and work and live here. So, the balance of good business and happy life is a key consideration for their success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJapanese companies generally tend to look for stability and there are many cultural studies that back this up, and this is also reflected in the business culture,\u201d adds Michiel Bakhuizen<\/a><\/strong>, Strategic Advisor and Spokesperson of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. \u201cAt the moment, both COVID-19 and Brexit are causing them a certain degree of cautiousness and they are currently looking at countries with a more stable base. The Netherlands is in a very good position because we are a stable country and our economy is growing – even in challenging international economic times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Netherlands has a strong position in Europe for accommodating international trade by air and deep-sea,\u201d said Bart Jan Koopman. \u201cRotterdam is the largest container-port in Europe and Amsterdam airport is the 3rd largest airport for freight in Europe. The Netherlands is also located in a region with other important ports, the so-called Hamburg Le Havre range. Ports like Hamburg and Antwerp are situated very close to Rotterdam. The regional collaboration within the EU, the Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg) is involved in roughly one quarter of all air-cargo operations and one fifth of the maritime operations in the whole of Europe. Apart from geographical position the Netherlands has a long tradition in trade-business collaboration. This result is efficient customs clearance at ports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akira Havermans<\/a><\/strong> Chairman of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan recognizes the importance of clear communication in order to facilitate Dutch \u2013 Japanese business and trade; \u201cIt can be said that Japan and the Netherlands are at opposite extremes and quite different. For example, Dutch people are known for their direct way of communicating in a \u2018low context\u2019 environment, while Japanese people are known for being somewhat indirect in their communications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n An appreciation of the arts, music, literature and culture is shared by Japan and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJapan Museum SieboldHuis exhibits a vast array of objects painstakingly collected by Philipp Franz von Siebold during his stay in Japan (1823-1829)\u201d, said Kris Schiermeier<\/a><\/strong>, Director of the Japan Museum SieboldHuis. \u201cThey are yours to discover in the stately Dutch residence that once was his home. It was here that he first displayed his treasures brought back from his beloved Japan. They included medicinal objects, art, maps, books, plants, and animals. At present the works of “Ogata Gekk\u014d and his contemporaries” are on display. The works of this versatile artist will be exhibited until September 5, 2021. Private loans (including a large collection from Tasmania!), consisting of prints, books, albums, and exquisite paintings, have made this exhibition possible. In addition to more than one hundred works by Ogata Gekk\u014d (1859 – 1920), forty works of art by his contemporaries are on display. This exhibition offers a new perspective on printmaking during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and is a must see for lovers of Japanese art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany artists from our collection are directly inspired by western artists,\u201d said Elise Wessels<\/a><\/strong>, Director\/owner at Nihon no hanga – Japanese Print Collection. \u201cThe individuality and emotional expression in the art of Dutch artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Kees van Dongen en Piet Mondriaan spoke to this new generation of free-thinking Japanese artists. Through their work, they found their own voice. It is important to cherish the connection these artists found with their western counterparts, as this interaction between east and west continues to inspire future generations of Dutch and Japanese printmakers. It is one of our missions to maintain a strong Dutch-Japanese relationship, and I am therefore very thankful the Japanese government honoured me in 2019 with the decoration ‘Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays\u2019 in recognition of contributing to the promotion of Japanese arts in the Netherlands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDutch people are open, fluent in English and well educated,\u201d concluded Takeshi Gotoh<\/a> <\/strong>of Japan Euro Promotions. \u201cThe Netherlands is safe, has good transportation and logistics links and very advanced infrastructure. World-leading human resources are gathered in the Netherlands from all over the world as housing, education and social facilities are very good. Japanese people can easily start a company if the business benefits Dutch society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt would be a waste if serious and hardworking people from Japan and the Netherlands walked alone. If these two countries work together for the well-being of humankind, they can provide the earth with more happiness than it expects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click here for more information on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Japanese Ambassador<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Netherlands (JCC)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan (NCCJ)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n DUJAT (Dutch and Japanese Trade Federation)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Evofenedex<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Japan Museum SieboldHuis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nihon no hanga – Japanese Print Collection<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA modern take on an historic partnership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Deshima and Dujat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
‘Rolling Out the Orange Carpet’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Dutch gateway to Central Western Europe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clear communications between East and West<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rediscovering Japan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Netherlands and Japan \u2013 working together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n