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The Netherlands has the 16th largest economy in the world, and ranks 10th in GDP (nominal) per capita. As a founding member of the EU, euro coins and notes have been in use since January 1^st, 2002. The Netherlands is home to many globally renowned brands including Unilever, Heineken, Royal Dutch Shell, Philips and DSM. It is also home to one of the largest natural gas fields in the world. Slochteren, the gas field in the north has resulted in total revenue of €159 billion since the mid 1970s. N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie boasts of being the largest public-private partnership world-wide.

Between 1998 and 2000 annual economic growth (GDP) averaged nearly 4%, well above the European average. Growth slowed considerably in 2001-05 due to the global economic slowdown, but accelerated to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2007. Inflation is 1.3% and is expected to stay low at around 1.5% in the coming years. Unemployment is lower than most European Union member states. Despite ranking only 10th in GDP per capita, UNICEF ranked the Netherlands 1st in child well-being.

Agriculture is an important part of the Dutch economy. It is a highly mechanised sector which only employs about 4% of the labour market yet accounts for $55 billion dollars in export earnings; a number that puts the Dutch agricultural production in third place after the United States and France. Some of the Netherlands' key exports include tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. It is also responsible for a whopping two third of the world's production in fresh-cut plants, flowers and bulbs.

The Netherlands also boasts of Europe's largest port - Rotterdam giving it prime access to markets in the UK and Germany. International trade, banking and transport are other important aspects of the Dutch economy.

Sources

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands#Naming_conventions