NDL / HIDC
Your logistics gateway to Europe
Well-developed logistics industry
-
the country’s central location in north-western Europe, home to the mainports Rotterdam and Schiphol and close to the important markets of Germany, France, and the UK;
-
its advanced infrastructure, with a dense network of motorways and railways, completed by an extensive inland waterway network;
-
its highly developed logistics service sector, with all major global logistics service providers having distribution facilities there;
-
the longstanding tradition of international trade, which has led to an extensive logistics support sector (banks, leasing companies, terminal facilities);
-
the highly skilled, flexible, and multilingual labor force;
-
presence of a pro-business government that fosters a favorable operating environment through business-friendly policies on customs procedures and taxation.
In the Netherlands, there are some 12,000 companies offering road haulage services, ranging from very small, one-truck outfits to large international players. Nearly 75% of all goods in Europe are transported by road, and some 30% of all cross-border road transportation of goods within the EU is carried by Dutch transport firms. Of these, approximately 500 major and medium-sized operators offer a full range of integrated logistics services. The most commonly provided services include:
-
ocean freight forwarding (FCL & LCL), to and from all major world destinations;
-
air freight forwarding;
-
customs brokerage;
-
warehousing (general storage as well as storage with special requirements for dangerous goods, food items, high-tech products, large/small products);
-
value adding logistics activities (physical activities related to the products, like assembly, kitting, (re)labeling, pre-delivery inspections, and testing);
-
value adding services (commercial and administrative activities related to the products, like order entry, tracking & tracing, customs clearance, invoicing, and fiscal representation);
-
transport throughout Europe (FTL & LTL, parcel, temperature controlled, tank).
Large number of logistics service providers
The Dutch logistics industry is renowned for its excellence. The fact that around 75% of all the European Distribution Center operations of foreign investors in the Netherlands are outsourced to local logistics service providers is living proof of the quality of the industry. Some 150 logistics service providers operate general and specialty warehousing facilities in the Netherlands, ranging from 5,000 m2 up to 500,000 m2 per company. When you are planning to outsource your European distribution activities (transport and/or warehousing and/or value added logistics) to a logistics service provider, it is important to find the right partner, one that meets your company’s specific requirements. In the Netherlands, a large number of logistics service providers can be found for each and every service that is required. This means not only choice but also competitiveness among these providers. Due to free competition and a minimum degree of government interference, Dutch logistics companies offer the best price-quality transportation and distribution services in Europe.
The top 20 logistics service providers in the Netherlands in terms of employees are listed in the figure beside. Holland also has numerous smaller logistics service providers that specialize in certain types of distribution (e.g., chemicals, electronics).
Back
NDL/HIDC
NDL/HIDC (Holland International Distribution Council), which represents the logistics sector in the Netherlands, helps international companies make a smooth entry into the European market through the region's leading gateway, the Netherlands.
References
