The Netherlands ranks as the 11th richest country in the world

Updated on 22 October 2025

Intercompany Solutions is a firm that specializes in the establishment of Dutch companies, especially for foreign entrepreneurs that either want to start a Dutch business, or wish to expand their already established business presence here. We can help you with all steps during the process, from the incorporation of your company at a Dutch notary, to the official registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. We have streamlined this process in such a way, that it only takes us just a few business days to set up your company. And it can also be done entirely remotely, if you grant us power of attorney on your behalf. This will save you a costly trip to the country and much time.

Next to that, we can assist you with a wide variety of other services, such as offer tax and accounting advice, and legal support via our partners. We also help you out with all general matters you might encounter along the way. Due to our vast network of specialists in the field and many years of experience and expertise, we can help you establish a strong business presence that is built on a strong foundation and, therefore, will generally attract success quickly. If you would like to know more about our services, feel free to contact us anytime. We will happily answer all your questions.

How to choose a suitable country for your company?

Looking to expand your business overseas? Then it’s crucial to do some in-depth research regarding the country you want to establish your business in. There are many factors to consider, such as economic and political stability, a friendly and welcoming business climate that thrives, the amount of innovation a country is involved in, new incentives and business opportunities, the possibility of gaining some type of funding and, of course, the general financial health of the country. If you currently live in a country that is lower on the list that The Economist created, it might actually be very beneficial for you to move your company elsewhere, or branch out. 

If you own a business in a country that is considered rich, you will automatically gain more professionalism and trust, which will inevitably lead to more clients and the opportunity to sell more goods or services, amplifying your success as a business owner. In this article, we will dive into the financial position of the Netherlands. The country has always been relatively rich and healthy, which makes it the perfect place to establish your business, or expand your business presence to. Read on for more information about this country’s financial status.

How are all the countries ranked in terms of financial stability?

As you might suspect, the process of sorting countries into categories such as “rich” and “poor” is far from straightforward. Simple measures like gross domestic product (GDP) can be misleading, as they are heavily influenced by the population size of any given country. This means that more people often result in a higher overall output, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to individual wealth or prosperity. Adjusting for population, commonly by looking at the general income per person, provides a clearer view. But this metric also falls short of capturing the full economic picture.

This is because the general income per person does not reflect the significant differences in the cost of living between countries. For example, the same amount of money may buy very different quantities of goods or services depending on where you are; a simple meal or item can cost much more in one country than another. Even after currency conversions. Additionally, such measures don’t account for how efficiently economies produce goods and services, which basically describes the amount of productivity, or output per hour worked. To offer a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of a nation’s financial health, The Economist employs a ranking system based on three key indicators:

• Dollar income per person: this measure calculates the average income of each individual in a country in dollar terms, for clarity, as involving all possible currencies would make the creation of a list very complicated. While it gives an idea of overall economic output divided by population, it does not account for variations in local prices or productivity.
• Purchasing-power parity (in short: PPP): this is about income adjusted for local prices. PPP takes into account how much goods and services actually cost in each country, providing a more accurate comparison of living standards and real wealth between nations.
• Income per hour worked: this measure focuses on the productivity in every country, thus revealing how much economic output is generated for every hour of labor. High productivity indicates that a country can produce more value with less effort, which often reflects the existence of things such as better technology, higher skill levels, and greater efficiency.

By considering these three dimensions, namely the average dollar income, purchasing power and productivity of every country, The Economist’s ranking offers a very complete and nuanced view of each country’s true financial standing. This methodology helps business owners, investors, and policymakers gain a fuller picture of where opportunities may be strongest and how different economies compare. In the sections that follow, we’ll explore how the Netherlands fares under these criteria and why its consistently high ranking makes it especially attractive for expanding or establishing a business presence.

The Netherlands’ position in the list of the world’s richest countries

Just outside the top ten, the small yet influential and well-known country still proves itself to be stable, economically strong and financially healthy. The Dutch are notoriously known for their amazing trading abilities, export and import prowess, capacity for innovation and progress, water management and their bi- and even trilingual capabilities. This makes the Netherlands one of the best countries to set up a business in, or expand your already existing business. Due to these factors (and actually many more), the country is considered wealthy. You can find a broad overview of the measures The Economist used to calculate the position of the Netherlands in their list below.

Dollar income per person

When we look at “dollar income per person,” we’re talking about how much each person in the Netherlands would earn if you divided the country’s total income (GDP) by its population. After, you’d have to convert the amount in euros to U.S. dollars. Think of it as a rough way to size up wealth across countries, without worrying about currency differences. For the Netherlands, this number was about $64,600 in 2023. That puts the Netherlands solidly in the top tier worldwide, around 11th place on many similar rankings. This information still doesn't tell us everything, though. Since prices, taxes, and social services differ, that figure doesn't show how far your money goes in everyday life. Still, it's an impressive snapshot, since the average Dutch person is producing and earning more than most folks in other countries.

Purchasing-power parity (PPP)

PPP adjusts income to show how much stuff people can actually buy where they live. Instead of just using exchange rates, it compares costs for everyday things, such as groceries, rent, different types of services and so on. For the Netherlands, PPP-adjusted income is about $70,700 per person in 2023. This figure is higher than the simple dollar income because everyday costs in the Netherlands aren't as high as in the U.S. That adjustment shows Dutch incomes stretch a bit further than they might at first glance. So, in plain terms: if your friend in the U.S. and you in the Netherlands earn the same number of dollars, you’d likely be able to buy more where you are. It gives a better sense of real living standards.

Income per hour worked

This one measures how much economic value is created for every hour someone works in the Netherlands. It’s a solid way to see how productive people are. According to the latest data, Dutch workers earned or produced about $97.40 for each hour of labor in 2023, using PPP values. That makes the Netherlands one of the most productive countries in the world, in any case well above the global average of around $76 per hour. High numbers like this often mean the existence of good tech, smart people, and efficient work practices. In everyday terms, it’s like saying Dutch workers get a lot done in an hour, making their hours of work count more toward the country's wealth. So these three factors combined put the Netherlands in the 11^th position worldwide when it comes to the world’s richest countries.

Other factors that make the Netherlands an exceptional country to do business from

Although starting a company in a rich country is always a solid move, or expanding your business to such a place, there are many other factors that you should consider when starting or expanding overseas. Things like the presence of a solid physical and digital infrastructure, the experience and skill of the workforce, the amount of people that speak foreign languages and other factors also play large roles. Below, we will list some other majorly positive factors that can be attributed to the Netherlands, which will enable to help you grow your business fast and steadily.

1. World-class infrastructure and connectivity

The Netherlands has top-tier infrastructure, which includes multiple major ports such as Rotterdam (Europe’s largest), high-speed rail, dense road networks, and one of the busiest airports in Europe: Schiphol. This makes shipping goods and connecting with Europe super easy. Beyond physical infrastructure, the Dutch are digitally very adept. Nearly all households have broadband, and nearly everyone owns a smartphone. The country's digital network is ranked among the world’s best, helping businesses move fast and stay connected, whether working from Amsterdam or across town in Eindhoven. Put simply: if you're running a business, whether you're sending packages across Europe or tapping into cloud systems, you get speed, reach, and reliability in the Netherlands.

2. Attractive and stable tax environment

Doing business in the Netherlands comes with clear and attractive tax rules. Corporate tax rates are 19% on profits up to €200,000 and 25.8% above that, which is lower than many other (European) countries. There are special incentives like the “Innovation Box” (just 7% on income from patents) and the “substantial holding exemption” (no tax on dividends or gains from big shares in other companies). Add to that a huge network of treaties to prevent double-taxation, the country is actually listed in the top five in the world, and you've got a smart, business-friendly tax system. Simply stated: you won't get hit twice on the same money, and if you choose to invest something? That's rewarded, not punished.

3. Highly skilled and multilingual workforce

The Dutch people are a major asset for almost every imaginable company. Dutch workers are well-educated, digital-savvy, and speak excellent English. And often German and French too. Many universities rank among the top in Europe, fueling a deep talent pool with technical, analytical, and digital skills. For international firms, this means you can hire capable local teams and start your daily business activities almost immediately, without major language or training hurdles. Plus, programs like the “Highly Skilled Migrant” visa make it easier to bring in top global talent. In everyday terms, you’ve got access to smart, easy-to-talk-to people who are ready to boost your business.

4. Culture of innovation and public-private collaboration

Innovation is almost literally part of Dutch DNA. The country backs it with real investment: €20 billion from the National Growth Fund (2021–25), top global innovation rankings, and active collaborations between business, universities, and the government. You find clusters like High Tech Campus Eindhoven, Brightlands, and Leiden’s Bioscience Park: places where inventive minds from all sectors come together. They’re designed for easy knowledge-sharing, and set up to get ideas off the drawing board and into the real world. That kind of creative energy is perfect if you're into new tech, green solutions, or biotech, for example.

5. High quality of life and a supportive business ecosystem

Living in the Netherlands is more than just nice. The country houses safe cities, top health systems, free public education, and one of the happiest populations in the world, plus a strong work-life balance. That makes it easier to bring in (and keep) international talent, and they say it really helps productivity and motivation. The government supports new businesses with practical help, too, through agencies like the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and Invest in Holland. So, your team lives well and gets help to navigate business in a new country, which is an unbeatable combination for long-term success.

So what about our business incorporation process?

As you can see, owning  Dutch business has many interesting perks. The country is considered to be very stable, friendly towards foreign entrepreneurs and offers many opportunities for all types of businesses. As a company that specializes in Dutch business establishment, we have streamlined the business incorporation process during the past few years to make it possible to establish your company in just a few business days. And the best part is: this can be achieved entirely remotely via power of attorney, which makes it possible for you to stay at home whilst we take care of the entire process for you.

The first (and most important) part of the process is acquiring a few important documents from you and some information. This is, amongst other things:

• A valid form of identification for all future shareholders as well as their names
• A preferred company name
• A valid Dutch business registration address
• The preferred company type you would like to establish

These are the basics that we work with, in order to be able to incorporate your company at the notary. Once your business is incorporated, we go to the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and register your business there. When this is done, you will get your registration number as well as your VAT-number and you can start doing business almost immediately. But our services don’t end there, as we will always be able to help you after the establishment of your business with various kinds of services. 

What types of services can we offer you?

Intercompany Solutions has assisted hundreds of foreign entrepreneurs from over 50 different nationalities. Our clients range from small one-person startups to multinational corporations and everything in between. Our processes are aimed at foreign entrepreneurs, and, as such, we know the most practical ways to assist with your company registration. We can assist with the full package of company registration in the Netherlands:

• Company establishment in the Netherlands
• Application for VAT or EORI number
• Startup assistance
• Accounting services
• Secretarial services
• Legal assistance
• Tax and accounting services
• General business advice

We are constantly improving our quality standards to continually deliver impeccable services. 

Intercompany Solutions can help you establish a business in one of the world's richest countries

As you have read, the Netherlands is a perfect destination for business establishment. If you are a foreigner and would like to expand to a different country, we highly recommend the Netherlands as it simply offer a lot; ranging from being a very well-respected EU member state to a stable economic situation, a lot of incentives to help entrepreneurs and many ways to grow and innovate your business. Next to that, international trade is also much easier if you work from the Netherlands, as they have connections to all parts of the world.

We can help you with the entire business establishment process, making it possible for you to start doing business in just a few days. We can also offer you legal advice when needed, help you out with financial issues and sort out your periodical and yearly tax return, offer administrative and practical advice and also help you apply for EORI and Article 23 (import VAT deferment). If you are interested in our services, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We will gladly help you along the way and assist you in building a successful company overseas.