Introduction
Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – which are known collectively as ‘Benelux’ – have a well-developed infrastructure and large sea- and airports. The population is highly educated and internationally oriented and the consumers are among the wealthiest in the world. The economies are very open to new businesses. The Benelux is also home to many EU and international institutions, including the EU Commission, the EU Parliament, NATO and the International Court of Justice.
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport; Antwerp ranks second. Luxembourg is home to the EU’s only high-security free port for high-value goods. All three Benelux countries have large networks of tax and investment treaties and do not impose VAT pre-financing upon the import of goods into Europe.
All this makes Benelux an attractive market as well as a natural hub for the international expansion (or further expansion) of businesses.