Entrepreneurial climate in the Netherlands moderately favourable

Policymakers in the Netherlands seek to improve the entrepreneurial climate. Various factors beyond human control, e.g. geographical location, affect the entrepreneurial climate. Other factors are subject to human intervention, like cutting back on red tape and reducing the administrative burden.

Time required to set up a business, 2006

Period required for setting up a business relatively short in the Netherlands

In 2006, it took on average 10 days to comply with the formalities required to set up a business in the Netherlands. This is a relatively short period in comparison to most other European countries. In Hungary, for example, the period was 38 days and in Spain even longer (47 days).

Despite the short period required to set up a business, Dutch prospective entrepreneurs thought they had to deal with a lot of paperwork.

The time required to set up a business has been reduced in nearly all reference countries in recent years. Many countries are rapidly catching up with the Netherlands.

International trade also relatively easy in the Netherlands

The amount of time required to import or export a container of goods, to perform the necessary formalities and to arrange transport to the nearest port are also indications of the entrepreneurial climate.

Time required to import a loaded container, 2006

In 2006, it took on average 8 days to import a loaded container into the Netherlands, as against 15 days in most other countries, but in countries like Hungary and Poland it took considerably longer. With 7 days, the time required to export a loaded container was also relatively short in the Netherlands. With 20 and 23 days respectively, the Czech Republic and Hungary performed worst.

Time required to export a loaded container, 2006

Dutch entrepreneurial climate in middle bracket

Such concrete indicators, but also more general indicators provide a picture of the entrepreneurial climate in the Netherlands. An international comparison of over 100 indicators shows that the Netherlands holds a position in the middle bracket. It performs well macro-economically, but scores poorly on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Andries Kuipers