The Netherlands in Europe and the World

Abstract

The Netherlands keeps strong and extensive international economic and political relationships with other countries in the world and in particular in Europe. These have certainly contributed to its flourishing post-war economy and its relatively prominent international status. Prior to WWII, however, this international position was significantly more modest. The Netherlands faced rapidly increasing unemployment rates (from 6 to nearly 20% of the workers) since the 1929 economic crisis while the country was politically neutral and international trade was at a much lower level. That position changed fundamentally since WWII when the Netherlands became a NATO member and a founding member of the European Community. This chapter presents a review of the changing patterns of international trade, the international position of Dutch cities and Dutch foreign policy.