What to wear
The Netherlands observes conservative clothing in general, however not too glamorous. Be modest and consider dressing appropriately when dressing for corporate gatherings and even in the office. Makes are expected to be in dark suits over light-colored shirts that are not too bright, corporate trousers and a nice pair of shoes. On some occasions, some locals may wear sport coats inside the office. In that case, it means the said attire may be acceptable in the company you are in. Females are advised to be in dresses that are not too short. You may also wear dark-toned suits over dresses or shirts and skirts with appropriate length.

What to bring
The Dutch appreciate well-organized and structured meetings, so don’t forget to bring the necessary materials and hard copies of documents if you are to present to a local. The first meeting may require that you introduce yourself for familiarity, so a business card may be given at the beginning of your meeting for proper introduction.

What to expect
Dutch value punctuality very much. You should arrive on time or even a few minutes earlier than your counterparts to not keep them waiting. However should you be caught in a traffic jam, always inform them that you will arrive late as part of courtesy. Expect locals to be very strict when it comes to how time is being managed, so if you are about to do a presentation, it will please your local clients if you show them an outline of the discussion. However, even when locals are formal about business dealings, they don’t mind building friendships with those they interact with in the corporate. So go ahead and just keep it cool after meetings, grab a coffee with your counterparts and share a good conversation.

What you should know
In the Netherlands, one is given the authority in proportion to their level of education and experience. They have hierarchies but it serves to promote efficiency in business operations. When arriving at a decision, it doesn’t only come from one person, it is being shared by the whole team and consensus is given priority rather than personal judgement of the leader.

Locals in the Netherlands are frugal when it comes to business so don’t be surprised if costing undergoes several screenings and doing a big investment may require a great deal of convincing. Just appeal to your Dutch counterpart with reason by presenting evidence of an item’s necessity and reliability.

Women are not obliged to work in the Netherlands, but when they do, they only take part-time jobs. This results in decades of unequal opportunities for career growth between males and females. The good news is that the government has been working to support the women labor force by encouraging them to develop their skills that would enable them to climb the ladders in the corporate world.

Knowing your leave of absences is essential if you are about to work in the Netherlands. When it comes to corporate leaves, the following are applied in the country: