Netherlands

Political relations

Our bilateral relationship has strengthened at all levels, fostering increasing joint initiatives. The Netherlands is today a key partner for France, particularly concerning European issues such as the promotion of values (rule of law, gender equality, freedom of expression) within the European Union and beyond, as well as the Capital Markets Union and Banking Union. The two countries have evolved and share increasingly convergent views. As the Netherlands has moved closer to the French line (such as on strategic autonomy, while remaining favourable to an open European trade policy and keen to strengthen protection of companies), it has become more receptive to the evolution of our positions on fiscal rigour.
The strengthening of our political partnership was structured by the adoption by the French President and Dutch Prime Minister of a joint statement on 31 August 2021. The state visit by the French President on 11 and 12 April 2023 further strengthened the partnership and the many prospects for cooperation. During his visit, the President gave a speech on the pillars of our European sovereignty and the economic security challenges faced by the EU. This state visit also included the holding of the second session of the intergovernmental seminar (following the first in Paris in March 2022) on the central themes of our partnership (defence, economy, innovation, energy and research).

Economic relations

France and the Netherlands are major economic partners, although the relationship is skewed towards the latter. Trade totalled €63 billion in mid-2022. The Netherlands remain our eighth-largest trading partner and seventh-largest customer and supplier. Conversely, France is the third-largest customer and sixth-largest supplier of the Netherlands. We have a structural goods trade deficit which, having worsened considerably from 2016, improved slightly in 2022. It is our seventh-largest goods trade deficit. Holding €106 billion in foreign direct investment stock in 2022, the Netherlands were France’s third-largest investor. The Dutch presence in France includes more than 1,000 companies with a total turnover of €48 billion, employing more than 150,000 people. It reflects the strengths of the Dutch economy: agrifood (Heineken, Wessanen, Hendrix Genetics), retail (Action, Hema, Zeeman), chemicals and pharmaceuticals (SHV, Akzo-Nobel), electronics (Philips), petroleum products (Shell), logistics and distribution (TNT, etc.) and financial services (ING, ABN AMRO). In 2021, the Netherlands brought 103 investment projects to France, generating 1,600 jobs. A third were in the sport and recreation sectors. The Netherlands is also the leading investor country in France’s agrifood industry.

Mutual investment also illustrates the attractiveness of the Netherlands and our close ties. In 2022, the Netherlands ranked second in stock for French foreign direct investment, at €191 billion), and France has a significant presence in the country. Almost 1,500 French subsidiaries employ around 137,000 people and produce turnover of €53 billion, including in transport (Air France-KLM, Transdev, Renault, Peugeot, etc.), energy (Engie, Total, Air Liquide, Schneider Electric), waste processing and the circular economy (Suez, Veolia), and agrifood (Danone). Air France-KLM is symbolic of our bilateral economic cooperation.