A Conversation with: Corinne Schot, Managing Partner, Baker McKenzie Amsterdam Office
How do you assess the competitiveness of the Netherlands as a business hub?
The Netherlands is one of the most competitive economies in the world. We have been exceptionally inventive in fostering an attractive ecosystem. The Netherlands has world renowned transport and logistics infrastructure including the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and the Port of Rotterdam. At the same time, it is a beautiful country and an excellent place to live, making it easy to attract foreign talent.
What other factors do you attribute to the Dutch success story?
I would say our success is based on two pillars. First, our education system, which is the main driver behind our success, and the reason we have a highly skilled and educated workforce. The second is our attitude. We are a small country and therefore always thinking about the global picture. The Dutch mentality is to look beyond our boundaries, and this global mindset has consistently given us an edge. Furthermore, it is rare for people beyond our borders to speak Dutch, so we strive to learn multiple languages, and therefore have a multilingual workforce. For example, almost our entire population speaks some English, something which does not happen in France or Germany.
What is your advice for American companies expanding operations in Europe?
When expanding European operations, American companies should remember the Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular should be at the top of their list. We can give pragmatic advice depending on the case, and the American Chamber of Commerce is also able to help companies make the decision that is right for them. We already noticed a spike in the number of companies in the digital space enquiring about Amsterdam as a base for operations. In the future, we hope to see more American entities choose to base their operations here and discover the Dutch competitive edge.