“When the world ends, I’ll go to the Netherlands, because there everything happens fifty years later.” These words are attributed to the great German poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), although no trace can be found of them in his work. Certainly in the first half of the nineteenth century, however, there were grounds for this opinion. After the spectacular prosperity of the seventeenth-century Golden Age, the Netherlands found itself in a long period of economic, social and cultural stagnation, a predicament that was also lamented by contemporaries. Today, as well, one frequently encounters references in popular culture to the glorious days of the East India Company (VOC) and the Golden Age. In an unguarded moment, a politician has even referred to “the VOC mentality” in urging the country to become more ambitious and internationally orientated. In the meantime, however, the Netherlands has become a modern nation that is similar to the surrounding countries in many respects. In which ways is the Netherlands different from other Western countries? What makes the Netherlands distinctive, and is it really so different from other countries?

Historical Continuity

The Netherlands was great before it was the Netherlands. It has been in existence as a nation-state and as a kingdom for more than 200 years, yet it is difficult for the Netherlands to get out from under its past as the great and glorious Republic of the Seven United Provinces. This historical self-image serves as motivation for the Netherlands to “do better” and to show the world, once more, how a small country can be great. Entrepreneurship, perseverance, a mercantile spirit, willingness to take risks, innovation – in short, “guts” and “nerve” – are the qualities associated with this (and which are described as the “VOC mentality”). And these would indeed be lacking, were it not luckily the case that it is always possible to find shining examples of entrepreneurs and companies that have managed to break free of the lethargy and easy comforts associated with the past.

It is true to say that the Netherlands was and is a trading country, a country of imports and exports. After Germany, in terms of absolute value, the Netherlands has the largest volume of exports in the European Union.