This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 8/16/2019

Overview


The Netherlands has boat builders of all sizes.  There are 507,800 boats presently in use in the country.  Polyester boats, especially sailboats, are popular, but most are steel, diesel-powered, freshwater, and family boats, averaging 26- to 36-feet in length.


The total number of employees in the industry remains stable at 31,000.  There are 4,200 watersport companies active in the Netherlands employing 20,300 full-time employees (FTE), including many marinas, importers, and maintenance companies.

In 2016 Dutch shipyards delivered 63 seagoing vessels to market with a value of more than $1.2 billion.  Production at foreign facilities belonging to Dutch shipyard groups is on the rise, and foreign affiliates of Dutch shipyards are also doing well.  On average, 60 percent of seagoing ships produced in the Netherlands are destined for export.

The most important marine equipment trade show in Europe, the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS), is held annually in November in Amsterdam.

                                                                                                                                      Unit: USD thousands

 

2015

2016

2017

2018 (Estimated)

Total Local Production

6,373,395

6,503,793

7,115,150

7,124,412

Total Exports

3,824,037

3,902,276

2,911,950

4,752,541

Total Imports

190,324

181,524

975,781

201,143

Imports from the U.S.

33,058

31,529

41,561

35,482

Total Market Size

2,739,682

2,783,041

5,178,981

2,573,014

Exchange Rates:
 (1 USD in Euro)

0.9013

0.9009

0.9009

N/A

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)

Data Sources:
Total Local Production:  ICOMIA
Total Exports:  HISWA
Total Imports:  CBS
Imports from U.S.:  Census Bureau


Leading Sub-Sectors

Many types of boating equipment and supplies sell well; marine electronics and maritime technology are in great demand.  There is interest in global positioning systems, marine communications, direct dialing communication systems, fluxgate compasses, electronic charting, and versatile screen displays and interfacing.  Other types of less-sophisticated basic boat parts, equipment, and supplies are also enjoying strong sales.


Web Resources

Trade Events:                      Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS)
November 19 -21, 2019 | RAI Amsterdam, the Netherlands
METS website


Associations:                       HISWA (Dutch Trade Association for the pleasure boat industry)

Netherlands Maritime Technology
(Dutch Trade Association for the shipbuilding industry)

SME Resources:                   Posted on the website of the Global Marine Technology Team

Contact:                                Philip Hammerstein, Commercial Specialist                                          
U.S. Commercial Service – The Netherlands
Philip.Hammerstein@trade.gov | +31-70-310 2416
 

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.