ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Appointments are essential and business cards are common. Well-groomed clothing is expected of business people. English is spoken a lot in business circles. The best months for business travel are March – May and September – November.
Amsterdam
The Dutch pride themselves on their efficient time management, so punctuality is important. Dutch business partners should be addressed by their full name and title; It is not customary to address them by their first name, unless the business partner is much younger or expressly offers this.
Most Dutch executives speak English and German, so business cards don’t necessarily need to be translated into Dutch. However, you should have promotional material, instructions for use and manuals translated into Dutch. It is advisable to include the year the company was founded (if it has a long tradition) and academic titles on the business card, as the Dutch respect history and education.
Wearing a suit is appropriate for business meetings, and casual and elegant clothing for social events. Business lunches and meetings in the evening are rare. If you are invited to a business partner’s home, you should bring a bouquet of flowers for the hostess. When receiving a gift, it is customary to open it immediately.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-5pm.
Economy
German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce
Nassauplein 30, NL-2585 EC Den Haag Postal
address: Postbus 80 533, NL-2508 GM Den Haag
Tel: (070) 311 41 14.
Internet: www.dnhk.org
Dutch Chamber of Commerce for Austria
PO Box 160, A- 1041 Vienna
Tel: (01) 50 55 70 9.
The Hague Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Konigskade 30, NL-2502 LS Den Haag
Tel: (070) 328 71 00.
Internet: www.denhaag.kvk.nl
Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
De Ruyterkade 5, NL-1000 CW Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 531 40 00.
Internet: www.amsterdam.kvk.nl
Business contacts
German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce
Nassauplein 30, NL-2585 EC Den Haag Postal
address: Postbus 80 533, NL-2508 GM Den Haag
Tel: (070) 311 41 14.
Internet: www.dnhk.org
Dutch Chamber of Commerce for Austria
PO Box 160, A- 1041 Vienna
Tel: (01) 50 55 70 9.
The Hague Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Konigskade 30, NL-2502 LS Den Haag
Tel: (070) 328 71 00.
Internet: www.denhaag.kvk.nl
Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
De Ruyterkade 5, NL-1000 CW Amsterdam
Tel: (020) 531 40 00.
Internet: www.amsterdam.kvk.nl
COMMUNICATION
Phone
According to militarynous, the country code of Netherlands is 0031. Public phones are increasingly difficult to find. Telephones accept the KPN Telefoonkaart, a prepaid card that can be bought from tobacco shops for € 5, € 10 and € 20. Coins or credit cards are also accepted. The cost is € 0.10 per unit for local calls. Telephone information is available in French, English and German.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100. Network operators include T-Mobile (GSM 1800; Internet: www.t-mobile.nl), Orange (GSM 1800; Internet: www.orange.com/en/home), KPN Mobile (GSM 900/1800, Internet: www.kpn.com) and Telfort (GSM 900/1800; Internet: www.telfort.nl).
International roaming can be used within the EU at the Euro tariff. Customers of all European mobile network operators automatically make all calls in and from other EU countries at the euro rate. However, the Eurotariff does not apply to other mobile communications services such as SMS, MMS and data transmission.
It is also possible to buy a prepaid SIM card on site. Prepaid cards are available in supermarkets, post offices, petrol stations, tobacco shops and cell phone shops.
Internet
Internet cafes are available nationwide. Almost everywhere there is free access to the Internet in libraries and in almost all hotels. In addition, many restaurants, bars, cafes and coffee shops offer free WiFi access (www.hotspotlocations.com). In the province of Zeeland, visitors can surf the Internet for free with the Internet service “WiFi Zeeland”.
Post Office
Postage stamps are available from post offices, tobacco shops, and kiosks. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 9 am-5pm, Sat 9 am-12pm. Some post offices in larger cities are open longer on Thursday and Friday evenings. There are post offices in Amsterdam (Nieuwezjids Voorburgwal, behind the Royal Palace) and Rotterdam (Coolsingel) that are open 24/7.
Attention: Mailboxes are red, not to be confused with the yellow waste bins.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official languages are Dutch and Frisian (in the province of Friesland). Many Dutch people also speak English, German or French.
Idioms
- Goodbye = dead ziens
- Eight = eight
- Eighty = eighty
- Exit = exit
- Beer = beer
- Please = Alstublieft
- Thank you = thank u wel
- Tuesday = dinner day
- Doctor = doctor
- Thursday = Thursday
- Three = three
- Thirty = Done
- Entrance = entrance
- One hundred = Honderd
- One = Een
- One thousand = duizend
- Friday = Vrijdag
- Five = Vijf
- Fifty = Vijftig
- Danger = Gevaar
- Closed = plumbing
- Hello = Hello
- Today = Vandaag
- Hotel = hotel
- I feel sick = Ik voel me ziek
- I don’t understand = Ik grijp het niet
- Yes = yes
- My name is… =?? Mijn naam is… / ik heet…
- I’m fine. = Met mij gaat het goed.
- Wednesday = Wednesday
- Monday = May Day
- Tomorrow = tomorrow
- No = no
- Nine = negation
- Ninety = Negative
- Open = geopend
- Restaurant = restaurant
- Saturday = Zaterdag
- Six = Zes
- Sixty = Zestig
- Seven = Zeven
- Seventy = Zeventig
- Sunday = Zondag
- Menu = menu
- Do you speak German / English? = Speak u Duits / Engels?
- Toilets = toilets / toilet
- Four = four
- Forty = finish
- Wine = Wijn
- How are you? = Hoe gaat het?
- How much is it? = Does Hoeveel cost?
- Where is …? = What is…?
- Ten = Tien
- Twenty = Twintig
- Two = twee