Upcoming Trade Shows in Netherlands for Shipping

The Netherlands has seen continuous growth in its shipping industry as its wider maritime cluster evolves to meet modern economic and technological demands. The country has long leveraged its strategic geographic location and robust infrastructure to become a hub of global shipping activity. Today, the Netherlands is home to one of the most complete and high-standard maritime clusters in the world. More than 12,000 maritime companies contribute to the success of this sector and together have created employment for 165,000 people. The industry has also created €18.7 billion in direct added value and €4.0 billion in indirect value, along with over 100,000 supplementary jobs. This extensive maritime ecosystem encompasses major ports, shipping companies, the world’s largest dredging fleet, the largest inland barge fleet in Europe, and the EU’s third-largest shipbuilding industry by volume. The Netherlands is also a key player in offshore operations, yacht construction, fisheries, water sports, and maritime legal, financial, and insurance services. Combined, these facets form an integrated and dynamic network that not only supports shipping but drives innovation across related industries. Central to the Netherlands’ formidable force lies progressive national policy. Recognizing that much of the value in shipping is generated on land (nearly 70% of it), the Dutch government has implemented targeted policies to support shore-based operations and ensure competitive conditions for shipowners managing vessels from within the country. Key among these measures is the fiscal regime allowing shipowners to calculate profits based on ship tonnage, a strategy that supports long-term profitability. Additionally, flexible manning regulations, introduced under the 1996 Manning Act and aligned with international standards, allow for cost-effective crewing while maintaining high safety and training standards. These incentives have proven effective as between 1997 and 2009, the fleet sailing under the Dutch flag grew by over 40%.