Overview Netherlands

3. What prejudices are there and which of these are actually true?

Bikes, everywhere bikes - true

The Netherlands is on second place when it comes to bicycle use. Actually Denmark comes on the first place, they sell more bicycles and more people are a member of special cyclists unions. But still a lot of bikes in the Netherlands! About 1.3 bike per person and a total of approx. 22.5 million.

Everybody speaks English - true

The Dutch are, for the second year in a row, on first place in non-native English speaking. 90 % of the people speak the English language. One of the reasons is that the Dutch do not dub their movies/TV-Shows/commercials/ect.. Also not, when it comes to TV-shows for children - so they learn English from an early age.

Everybody wears clogs - false

The Dutch are happy wearing all kinds of shoes but clogs are not in the daily selection. Some old farmers still wear them, but nowadays just tourists love them.

4. What subjects are discussed during small talk?

Weather, the Dutch love to complain whether it is to hot, to cold or to rainy.
Sports, Food and what the weekend will bring.
Everything else that comes to matter, depending on the relationship.

5. What commodities play an important role in the country and to which countries does it export to and from which countries does it import from the most part?

a. Export:
Machinery, high value plastics, flowers and plants, metal and metal products, natural gas 
To: Mainly inside Europe (~75%), Asia (~11%), North America's (~5%), smaller percentage to Africa and Latin America

b. Import:
Manufactured goods, aachinery, vehicles, chemicals, food and drinks
To: Mainly inside Europe (~50%), Asia (~30%) , North America's (~8%), smaller percentage to Africa and Latin America

Rotterdam is an important transit port for Germany, a big part of German imports are unloaded in Rotterdam and transported to Germany by truck, rail or barge.

6. What special logistics obstacles/difficulties are there on location?

The Netherlands has a high density, so space is an issue and the biggest part of the country is below sea-level. But the Dutch had the idea to simply "build" on water.  They will just turn see into land to creat a new port called Maasvlakte II.

7. What goods were the most exciting or unusual that were transported by Fr. Meyer's Sohn or of which you have heard?

Diesel engines too big to be handled by normal vessels.

8. Are there traditional dishes that are eaten on specific holidays, for instance?

The Dutch have a specific tradition that is usually made for Christmas - it is called Gourmet. It is a cooking plate that is placed in the middle of the dining table. On this plate are little pans. All kinds of little pieces of meat and vegetables and sauces are placed on the table so people can create their own little dished in their own little pans.

9. What must absolutely be experienced or seen there?

• Instead of Amsterdam, which is to crowdie, go see Dordrecht, Leiden or Delft to see old Dutch cities. 
• Kinderdijk - Here you can see the windmills.
• Port of Rotterdam, which is the 5th biggest port of the world.