Netherlands

Diplomacy&Commerce

The National Day of the

Netherlands

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THE MAN CREATED HIS LAND

Much of its land has been reclaimed from the sea through a system of dikes and polders leading to the saying: "God created the world but the Dutch created the Netherlands".

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IS THE NAME RIGHT? OH YES!

Much of the land in Holland is flat.

About 25% of its area and 21% of its population are located below sea level, and 50% of its land lies less than 1 meter above sea level.

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DENSE, DENSER, THE NETHERLANDS!

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The Netherlands has the highest population density (493 inhabitants per km2) of any European country with over 1 million inhabitants.

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THE TALE OF TWO CITIES

The Netherlands has two capitals, like Montenegro: Amsterdam (the official capital by constitution since the 19th century) and The Hague (the seat of government and first capital since 1584).

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KLOMPEN

The Dutch have been wearing wooden shoes, or clogs, or “Klompen� since medieval times. They eventually became symbols of the Dutch culture.

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I NTE RV IEW

The Value of Reforms is in

THEIR IMPLEMENTATION We hope to be able to open chapters 23 and 24 on the Rule of Law during the Dutch presidency of the Council of the EU. However, more important than timing is for Serbia to truly push on with reforms and ensure their consistent implementation. The Netherlands stands fully ready to help Serbia in this priority area

Henk van den Dool

Ambassador of The Netherlands

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he Netherlands praises Serbia for everything that the country has been doing in the EU accession process, but also acknowledges that there are many aspects in which this process has to be improved. Rule of law, media freedom, better regulation in the business sector – these are some of the examples where “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”. In other words, preconditions for a successful accession process – a legal system in which citizens will be able to effectuate their rights and in which a level playing field for enterprises is guaranteed – are needed.

Such progress will allow for Serbia and the Netherlands to build mutual relations in even more satisfactory way, and to open new avenues for business cooperation, says Henk van den Dool, Dutch Ambassador to Serbia.

In your opinion, how much has Serbia progressed in the EU accession process?

— Accession to the European Union has really become Serbia’s strategic goal. In January 2014 Serbia became a candidate country to the EU. In December 2015 the first two negotiation chapters were opened: Chapter 35, which focuses on the dialogue with Kosovo, and Chapter 32, on financial matters.

We hope to be able to open chapters 23 and 24, on the Rule of Law, during the Dutch presidency of the Council of the EU. We also acknowledge that Serbia has taken concrete steps in national reforms that are necessary on the path to the EU. In the field of economic governance, an extensive agreement with the IMF was reached. The National Assembly adopted laws on bankruptcy and privatisation, which allows for the restructuring and privatisation of a large number of state companies. Likewise, a set of laws was adopted to restructure and privatise the media land-

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scape. Furthermore, amendments were adopted to modernise the labour law and make it easier to obtain building permits – a move that can have a positive effect on attracting foreign investments. The dialogue with Pristina led to the 2013 Brussels Agreement and several follow-up agreements, the latest in August 2015. There is commitment to continue the dialogue until all outstanding issues regarding the normalisation of the relations are resolved.

Looking ahead, we must also admit that there are still challenges to be faced. In this respect, strengthening the rule of law, one of the three pillars of the “Fundamentals First”-approach to EU Enlargement, remains crucial.

Laws and action plans are important and even necessary, but the real value of reform policies only becomes apparent through their consistent implementation. Or, as the saying goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.

The Netherlands stands fully ready to help Serbia in this priority area.

In that context, what do you see as the most pressing reform processes that the new Serbian government has to initiate?

— Serbia’s business and investment climate can be improved in a variety of

crucial to continue to implement these laws in a coherent manner. Reforms in these areas are a continuous process and the new Serbian government should use the existing momentum to carry on. The fight against corruption should continue to be a top priority for this government. In the context of fighting impunity, I must also mention the prosecution of war crimes cases, which must continue, especially now that the ICTY is slowly being phased out. Media freedom faces several challenges in Serbia - proper implementation of the adopted media laws can contribute to strengthening the media landscape. Finally, Serbia should also continue to strengthen good neigh-

Strengthening the rule of law, one of the three pillars of the “Fundamentals First” approach to EU Enlargement, remains crucial for Serbia to progress in EU integration ways. Besides the ongoing and necessary economic reforms, reforms should also continue in the field of the rule of law and public administration.

On many issues, a solid legal framework exists or has recently been put in place – in the coming period it will be

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bourly relations and should progressively align with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

In which areas does the Netherlands support Serbia the most when it comes to accession processes?

— The Netherlands continues to be a constructive partner to Serbia in the EU accession process as a whole.

However, don’t forget that the EU accession process is not a purpose in and of itself. Rather, it’s currently the context for Serbia’s reforms. These reforms should not solely be aimed at securing EU membership, but rather at improving the lives of the citizens of Serbia. In this process, my government considers the strengthening of the rule of law as a top priority and I dare say that this truly has become a field in which Serbia can count on our support. Currently, in area of the rule of law we have several successful bilateral projects ongoing, including in the area of mediation, strengthening cooperation between the prosecution services and the police, and the prosecution of war crimes cases. If we are talking about public sector capacity building, we hope that as of this year we will be able to occasionally send groups of Serbian stakeholders to the Netherlands and link them up with their counterparts in our country. We want to bring the Dutch experience and solutions closer to our Serbian partners and I hope that such bonding will result in positive developments in the respective sectors soon.

How would you assess the overall level of bilateral relations and in which areas could they progress further?

— The political relationship between Serbia and the Netherlands has developed positively over recent years, with an increase in bilateral ministerial visits. In the past few years we’re also observing moderately increased interest in Serbia among Dutch companies.

There are encouraging developments in energy, energy efficiency, ICT and water technologies. The bilateral trade balance is growing steadily, at the rate of about 7-10% annually. There is, however, ample room to advance mutual trade and investment to a significantly higher level. The Netherlands is one of the main traders of goods, services and commodities, the second largest exporter of agricultural goods and the 18th largest economy in the world.

Serbia has much underutilised potential. Our mutual economic relations will significantly increase once Serbia has created a truly investor friendly climate, has reformed the judiciary and has tackled red tape and corruption issues that are slowing down the country’s development. State of the art agriculture and food production, water management (flood control, drainage and irrigation), waterway

logistics (a transportation channel in which the potential of this region is underestimated!) energy efficiency, inland water shipbuilding and IT are also promising areas.

To what extent has Serbia been successful in converting legislative changes into practice?

— As a state based on the rule of law, Serbia owes its citizens accessible,

laws the job is finished. When we talk about legislative reforms, achieving sustainability requires systemic solutions to problems, such as the case backlog, excessively long legal proceedings or the weak enforcement of judgments. Aside from new laws, sustainable reforms require coherent and consistent implementation, as well as an inclusive and high-quality legislative process in which the Parliament,

The Dutch experiences can contribute to Serbia’s development, especially in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, water- and waste management, logistics, energy-transition and ICT professional and efficient justice – in other words, a legal system in which citizens will be able to effectuate their rights and in which a level playing field for enterprises is guaranteed. The action plans for chapters 23 and 24, as well as various national strategies, represent Serbia’s parameters within which reforms are taking place. At the same time, action plans and laws as such are no guarantee for success. Socalled ‘legislative optimism’ should not fool us into thinking that by adopting

civil society, professional organisations and all other relevant stakeholders cooperate. This also includes engaged, professional and responsible judges, prosecutors and all other actors who, at the end of the day, carry the burden of consistent and proper implementation.

How could the Dutch experience help Serbia in building a more efficient economy and agriculture in particular?

- Being a trading nation at its heart, the Netherlands and its business community have managed to thrive in international business by being open, eager to learn and innovative in order to stay competitive. This requires continuous investments in technology, management capacities, innovation and cooperation between all stakeholders: business, government and academia. In an increasingly global market, standing still is the same as going backwards.

The Dutch experiences can be contribute to Serbia’s development, especially in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, water-and waste management, logistics, energy-transition and ICT. First and foremost, this can be done by knowledge transfer, sharing best practices and business cooperation between our countries.

As an embassy, we use different means to contribute to strengthening economic development. Firstly, we do this by supporting administrative capacity for implementing necessary and applicable rules and regulations and organising methodological or technical seminars or workshops for relevant stakeholders and decision-makers.

Secondly, and no less importantly, we try and improve business cooperation and opportunities for companies, both Serbian and Dutch, to develop.

Touch of Magic Between

TWO COUNTRIES

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he co-owners of the company are Freeland Holding BV, which is based in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and company Mijanović Ltd., based in Novi Sad (Serbia).

The company’s mission is to ensure the accessibility of every man who recognises that the 21st century requires a 21st century way of life. This means that convenience and comfort should be the primary objective of every building, for the reason that every single person, as well as those with families, recognise their building as their future ideal living environment.

What makes the company recognisable and sets it apart are the three colours that are now the hallmark of the company: Ferrari red, anthracite grey and ivory are the colours that combine to give the stamp of modernity, strength and solidness – which are the qualities of company Freeland Mijanović.

These three trademark colours can be seen in every part of Novi Sad – from the Detelinara suburb, through

The magic of Serbian-Dutch interaction in terms of construction is exactly what distinguishes the Freeland Mijanović company from its competitors. Freeland Mijanović has existed since 2008 and has since then successfully implemented both residential and commercial facilities on the territory of Novi Sad and beyond

Freeland Mijanović is a family company and has such an approach with regard to the construction of its buildings the city centre and Grbavica all the way to Patriarch Pavle Boulevard. The company works to provide customers with the ability to choose the part of town that

suits them best, and it is in accordance with this vision that it is present in all parts of the city.

Freeland Mijanović is a family company and has such an approach with regard to the construction of its buildings. In addition to the quality that makes it recognisable, Freeland also goes a step further and pays special attention to the common areas and the land surrounding its buildings. Wherever possible, gardens and yards are equipped with garden furniture, greenery and flowerbeds, while parts of the roofs of buildings are filled with greenery, which serves as yet more evidence that Freeland Mijanović considers its clients and their comfort.

Company policy ensures that apartments are only paid for when the customer receives the key in their hand, the so-called turnkey policy, which further demonstrates how certain the company is in the quality of its work and the deadlines set for the completion of all works.

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DU TC H ECONOMY

Solid Growth PERSPECTIVE The Dutch economy appears to have completed its recovery and a period of solid growth is on the horizon. According to the official statistics the Dutch economy has grown for the fifth quarter in a row, thanks to strong exports, investments and consumer spending, reaching almost the size it was before the crisis

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he Netherlands is the sixth-largest economy in the Eurozone with strong foreign trade sector, and exports accounting for 83 percent of GDP and imports for 72 percent. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, fairly low unemployment and inflation, and a sizable current account surplus. It represents an important European transportation hub, with Rotterdam being the biggest port in Europe and Amsterdam as one of the biggest airports in Europe. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, high-tech, financial services, creative sector and electrical machinery. A highly mechanised agricultural sector employs about 2% of the labour force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports.

In 2015, the Netherlands again exceeded the previous year’s exports of agricultural products. Total exports in 2015 amounted to 82.4 billion euros. Compared to 2014, this is an increase of 700 million euros The Dutch agricultural trade mainly focuses on countries within the European Union.

In 2014, more than 20 billion euros (25 percent) of Dutch agricultural exports went to Germany, making it our main trading partner. Belgium, the United Kingdom, France and Italy respectively account for 10.3 billion euros, 8.3 billion euros, 6.9 billion euros and 3.3 billion euros. Within Europe, the Netherlands mainly exports tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, meat, fish, dairy and eggs.

According to Statistics Netherlands, the Dutch economy in the second quarter of 2015 was almost the size it was before the crisis. The Dutch economy expanded 0.5 per-

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cent on quarter in the first three months of 2016, accelerating from a 0.3 percent growth in the previous quarter and matching market expectations. It is the eighth consecutive quarter of growth and the highest performance in a year as consumption, investment and exports made positive contributions.

Resilient exports along with the ongoing recovery in the housing market, an improving labour market and rising disposable incomes will sustain growth this year. According to the latest FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast it is expected that the economy will expand 1.7% in 2016 and 1,8% in 2017.

ernment wishes to maintain the momentum by creating more scope for entrepreneurs and innovative products and services, cutting taxes, tackling unnecessary regulations and improving lending. In the period ahead, I envisage that more of us will begin to reap the benefits of economic recovery: more people in work, more money to spend and more opportunities for businesses to grow.’

‘These figures suggest that the long period of economic recovery is behind us,’ said Kamp.

According to various analysts, Dutch economic growth is projected to strengthen further and to remain

The Dutch economy is the sixth-largest economy in the eurozone and is noted for its stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizeable trade surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub

According to the Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp, ‘Companies are investing more, consumers are spending more and exports are continuing to increase, despite setbacks in international trade as a whole. High unemployment still gives cause for concern, however. That’s why the gov-

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broad-based. Private consumption and residential investment will remain robust thanks to the housing market recovery, employment growth and a reduction in income taxes. The brighter economic outlook should further support business investment. The relatively strong performance of the

Netherlands’ key export markets will underpin export growth.

The relatively strong and widespread economic growth is rooted in a number of positive developments occurring in the Dutch economy over the past two years the very same forces which negatively impacted the economy in preceding years. These developments are the economic performance of the Eurozone, inflation trends, crisis and recovery on the housing-market and the interaction between economic growth and government finances Rabobank estimates.

According to a number of indicators, both the businessmen and consumers are upbeat about future trends. The producer confidence indicator, which measures Dutch manufacturers’ sentiment, increased from March’s 3.9 to 4.7 in April, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported.

The producers are more positive about their order books and their stocks of finished products. Sector-wise, producers in the wood and construction industry remained the most upbeat.

Dutch consumer sentiment improved and returned to optimistic territory in April, following March’s slump. As the CBS reports, the seasonally-adjusted consumer confidence indicator rose from March’s minus 4 points to plus 1 point in April, marking an increase after four consecutive declines. Consumer confidence rose mainly because households grew more optimistic regarding the general economic climate. Particularly, they turned more positive regarding both the economic situation in the past 12 months and in the next 12 months. Consumers’ inclination to buy also improved, though to a less significant extent.

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T RA DE EXCHANGE

Investments

ENCOURAGE EXPORT Although Serbia has recorded faster growth in exports than imports in foreign trade with the Netherlands, in the overall result a significant deficit is still present on the Serbian side. Companies that are under Dutch ownership and which do business in our country have contributed significantly to alleviating the deficit

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rade between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands has a tendency of continuous growth, which is contributed to significantly by the exports of Dutch companies operating in Serbia. Total trade in 2015 amounted to 399.8 million euros, an increase of 4.5% compared to 2014, when total turnover amounted to 382.5 million euros. The value of exports in 2015 was 136.7 million euros, while the value of imports was 263.1 million euros. Compared to 2014, exports increased by 21.4% and imports increased by 2.5%. Last year's export-import ratio was 51.98%. Between 2002 and 2015, the level of exports to the Netherlands increased almost threefold, while the level of imports almost doubled, ensuring a permanent trade deficit, but testifying to the potential for increasing Serbian exports and balancing trade.

Exports to the Netherlands accounted for 1.1% of total Serbian exports in 2015 in 2015, while imports from the Netherlands represent 1.6% of total imports to Serbia. Among the products most represented in export are: floating dredgers, other food products, seats with wooden frames, other vessels for the transport of goods, frozen raspberries, corn, aluminium plate containers, sheets, strips of aluminium alloy, benzene, other non-alcoholic beverages, tobacco, other parts and accessories for motor vehicles, frozen cherries, frozen blackberries and mulberries, while on the import side the main goods include: unclassified goods by CT under storage, medicines, road tractors for semi-trailers, other parts and accessories for motor vehicles, other amino resins in primary forms, palm oil and other products for human consumption, other polyethers, media optics

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for sound recording, other polyethers in primary forms, propane and styrene.

According to the sector structure, the highest exports in 2015 were: machinery and transport equipment 40.4% of total exports to the Netherlands, food and live animals 17.5%, manufactured goods classified by material - 17.2% of total exports to the Netherlands, and chemicals and related products – 7.2%.

Simultaneously, the most common imports were: chemicals and related products - 24.1% of total imports from the Netherlands, products and transactions specified in the SITC Rev.4 (unclassified goods) - 19%, machinery and transport equipment - 21%, food and live animals - 11.6%, and manufactured

goods classified by material – 10.5%.

Agricultural and food products represent a significant item in Serbia's exports to the Netherlands. Serbia mostly exported products of plant origin, raw or first stage processed foodstuffs: frozen raspberries, corn and cherries.

In 2015, the most significant exporters were: Sojaprotein AD, Bečej; Vahali Production Services d.o.o. (Ltd.); RHINE-DANUBE, Kladovo; Impol Seval AD, Sevojno; Ball packaging Europe Belgrade Ltd.; NIS AD, Novi Sad; Geinarro Ltd. Valjevo; and Glencore SRB. The main importers last year were: Tigar Tyres; Fiat Cars; Gorenje Ltd., Valjevo; Comutel; Preymesser Ltd.; Farmalogist Ltd., Belgrade, and others.

In terms of the level of net invest-

Total net investments of the Netherlands in the Republic of Serbia in 2015 amounted to €361.8 million, while in 2016 new investments have been recorded that will also mean an increase in Serbian exports

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ment in Serbia (source: NBS), from 2005 to 2013, with a total of 962 million euros, the Netherlands was in 6th place (behind Austria, Norway, Greece, Germany and Italy). However, it should be noted that we are talking about data on foreign investments in cash payments per country, rather than by country of origin of investment, thus acquisitions of American company Philip Morris International (purchase of Tobacco Industry Nis) and Russia's Lukoil (purchase Beopetrol) are calculated as Dutch investments, because the purchases were made by Dutch companies: Philip Morris Holland Holdings BV and Lukoil Europe Holdings. The same applies to the purchase of Apatin Brewery by Belgian company Interbrew, which was carried out through their Dutch subsidiary.

According to the same source, in 2013 the Netherlands was ranked first in the value of foreign direct investments in Serbia, with the amount of 131 million euros. In 2014, total net investment of the Netherlands in the Republic of Serbia amounted to 374.6 million euros, while in 2015 they amounted to 361.8 million euros (according to the NBS - new methodology of foreign direct investment).

Examples of new Dutch investments that will also have an effect on increasing exports include Dutch investment “VNB KNITTING”, which in April opened a knitwear factory in Grdelica, and the launch of joint greenfield investment company “Han Fluren holding” from the Netherlands and “I-Cargo” from Sremska Mitrovica this March.

Joint venture “Fleunerra” produces seedlings of consumable fruit using the latest Dutch technology. The initial value of the investment in the first investment cycle of two years is about 700,000 euros, while it has estimated export potential of a million euros.

CORP ORAT E

Success Based

ON EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Tebodin in Serbia is part of Tebodin’s regional network for Central and Eastern Europe, encompassing 800 engineers in seven countries

Jaromir Križ Regional Director at Tebodin Central and Eastern Europe

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he company is the most widespread engineering company in this part of Europe, striving to share experienced personnel and specific industry/client knowhow in order to ensure the best quality of service

What range of services do you offer and what sets your company apart compared to similar service providers in Serbia?

— We are an engineering and consultancy company with a strong customer focus. Our international knowledge and expertise allows us to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations from the very beginning of the investment, offering support from the first initiative with a broad range of consultancy services, multidisciplinary engineering design, all the way through project and construction management, site supervision and commissioning. This ability to cover the entire project lifecycle is the factor that sets us apart.

We are especially experienced in core processes of the food, chemicals and automotive sectors, while we also have experts in energy, including green building solutions and savings.

I have to say that our employees represent the basis for our success, achieved throughout our “family” spirit and our cooperation working with each other on many projects.

What is your overall approach to project development and sustainable construction?

— We act as our clients’ representative, which means that we promote the client’s interests and those of the development.

Tebodin mostly deals with the EPCm (engineering design, procurement, and construction management) approach or PMC (Project Management Consultancy). Having all the necessary experts in-house, we cater to projects from start to finish and are able to respond to the needs of investors. However, every client has different requirements and standards, and we are flexible in meeting any request.

As far as sustainable buildings are concerned, I believe that industrial

buildings in particular cannot truly be sustainable unless they are built by the investor. It is important for us to become involved from the very beginning, in order to ensure all aspects are thought through, such as flexibility of usage, future extensions, smart logistics, energy efficiency and pleasant working environments.

According to your experience, are green building solutions a common practice in Serbia and what consultancy services do you offer in this area? Do you have a tailored approach to sustainable solutions?

However, Green building solutions have not yet come to the fore fully in Serbia. In the last couple of years there have been ever more investors realising that the benefits of LEED or BREEAM certified buildings are not just in having a nice plaque on the wall, but rather in creating an improved working environment offering significant savings.

What are the key projects you have worked on in Serbia over the past decade and how have your clients benefited from your services?

— Our company motto is that we are

We are ‘always close’ – we are where our clients need us to be — Tebodin has closely followed the developments in this field and has fully certified experts in both LEED and BREEAM standards. Over the years, we have worked on various projects in the CEE region, from commercial buildings to industrial production facilities.

‘always close’ – we are where our clients need us to be. This is how we started in Serbia: through a project for Knauf Insulation in Surdulica. In the following years we worked on various projects, both simple and complex, for a wide variety of investors. In the last few years we have positioned our-

selves within the top 10 operators in the Serbian engineering and consultancy field; we have been involved in projects from Deka Inženjering, MPC Properties, Tigar Tyres, Delhaize, Cooper Tyres, Cooper Standard, Fresenius Medical Care etc.

What projects are you currently working on and do you have any new large-scale projects in the pipeline for 2016?

— At the moment I am proud that our cooperation with Tigar Tyres on extending their production complex will continue. This is one of the largest industrial expansions in Serbia in recent times. We are also managing the ABLOK development in Belgrade, with a total of around 120,000m2 of residential and commercial space. Just recently we won a high profile project on the outskirts of Belgrade. In parallel to all of this, we are working continuously on some retail expansions and reconstructions, most notably for Delhaize and MOL, as well a wide variety of lender supervision services for most of the major banks on the market, including UniCredit Bank and Banca Intesa.

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CUSTOM S

C U LT U R E

The Night Watch, 1642 (Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn)

Vlaggetjesdag (Flag day) in

SCHEVENINGEN Quirky and

HUMOROUS The Dutch passion for raw herring is central to the country’s culture and entwined with its history and customs. The herring takes centre stage during Vlaggetjesdag in Scheveningen

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laggetjesdag (Flag Day) celebrates the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) in the southern coastal towns of Vlaardingen and Scheveningen since 1947.

Hollandse Nieuwe is the name for herring that is caught every year. The fish go through the same cycle annually: in winter it is too skinny and in spring, when there is more plankton, it fattens up until the fat content is at least 16%.

Fishermen from Scheveningen did not fish for herring much until the middle of the 19th century, the monopoly of gutting

official Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen, and the proceeds go to charity.

In addition to the omnipresent herring, this day also features a number of activities unrelated to fish, for both young and old. During Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen, visitors are invited to watch spectacular demonstrations by rescue teams, participate in old Dutch children’s games, admire famous artists, watch the Royal Navy, tour boats and old fire engines, enjoy demonstrations of old crafts, watch famous chefs perform their magic, sing along with shanty choirs and enjoy the

Various smallscale festivities around the beginning of the herring season were recorded in the first half of the 20th century and salting being reserved for the cities along the river Meuse. Various smallscale festivities around the beginning of the herring season were recorded in the first half of the 20th century.

Today, hundreds of thousands of people gather in Scheveningen for the festivities, and the fishing boats are decorated especially for the occasion. In Scheveningen, the first barrel of herring is traditionally sold at an auction on the Thursday preceding the

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many colourful traditional costumes.

A colourful Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day) celebration starts every first or second Saturday in June, in the harbour, crowded with fishing boats from the Dutch herring fleet, and lined with restaurants that serve up just-caught seafood. Fishermen's wives dress up in their traditional costume. The fleet then returns with the new season's herring catch, amid much fanfare. This year’s Flag Day is to be held on 18 June.

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The Netherlands is famous for its achievements in the arts, architecture and design. There are hundreds of outstanding museums, exhibitions and festivals to visit and promising artists from all over the world are heading to the Netherlands to work or study

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etherlands has gave the world many famous artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondriaan, Appel (painters) and Berlage, Koolhaas and Rietveld (architects), to name a few.

In 2016 we mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450 – 1516), the most famous Dutch medieval artist. Countless exhibitions and activities will be organised in and around 's-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch, the city in which he was born, to honour this imaginative ‘devilish artist’. The highlights include the biggest Hieronymus Bosch exhibition ever at Het Noordbrabants Museum, the Bosch Grand Tour in seven museums in four cities in the province of North Brabant, the Bosch Experience in medieval ’s-Hertogenbosch and much more.

Dutch Design can be characterized as minimalist, experimental, innovative, quirky, and humorous Perhaps no other nation has had as big an influence on contemporary architecture as the Netherlands. Dutch architecture has become a worldwide industry. In the past decade, Rem Koolhaas, a well-respected architect became a global superstar. Although Rem is the biggest name and perhaps the most prolific architect on the Dutch scene, there are several important firms following in his wake, including MVRDV, UNstudio, Wiel Arets, JHK Architecten, West 8, and Neutelings Riedijk.

The Netherlands were primarily known for graphic design until the 1980s, At that time, the term was closely identified with a group of Dutch product designers who have gained international recognition such as Maarten Baas, Jurgen Bey, Richard Hutten, Hella Jongerius, Wieki Somers, Hester van Eeghen and Marcel Wanders, as well as internationally recognized design firms and collectives like Droog and Moooi.

Netherland has a strong educational system, which is behind the internationally recognized Dutch design scene. The Design Academy Eindhoven and Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam are among the top schools for design, in the world.

The Dutch government strongly supports new designers too through the Fund for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture), which allow design students to set themselves up as independent entrepreneurs right after graduation. Design is an integral part of product development in the Netherlands, where designers are included in the earliest phases of innovative processes and the production development cycle.

T OURISM

Nine Traditional

DUTCH ICONS

TULIPS The Netherlands is one of the largest exporters of tulips in the world.

More than 60% of the total surface of the country is used for agriculture and horticulture, and a significant portion of that is for the bulb growing industry, especially to those nurseries that are focused on tulips.

WINDMILLS There were mustard mills, hemp mills, grain mills, snuff mills, cocoa mills, oil mills, chalk mills, paint mills and saw mills. There are over 1000 windmills in Holland today, and many have been restored. Once a year Holland holds "National Mills Day." Every second Saturday in May 600 windmills and watermills around the country open their doors to visitors.

CHEESE Dutch dairy factories produce and export hundreds of millions of tons of cheese every year. The cheese markets in Alkmaar, Gouda and Edam remind us of the origins of a flourishing cheese trade and have become popular tourist attractions. The Dutch still love cheese and eat about seven pounds of it annually per person.

WOODEN SHOES Contrary to popular belief, most Dutch people don’t wear clogs anymore.

The only group of people that still wear them are rural workers. Besides them, most clogs are sold to tourists from all over the world that want to bring home a typically Dutch souvenir. Currently, there are 25 traditional clog makers who like to demonstrate the profession of clog making.

DELFT BLUE Delft Blue is the world-famous earthenware that has been produced in the city of Delft since the 17th century. Although the Delftware potters preferred to call their earthenware “porcelain”, Delft Blue was not made from the typical porcelain clay, but from clay that was coated with a tin glaze after it was fired. In spite of this,

Delft Blue achieved unrivalled popularity, and at its peak, there were 33 factories in Delft.

CANALS Many Dutch cities such as Alkmaar Utrecht, Dordrecht, Leiden, Groningen, Leeuwarden and Amersfoort are cities with cityscapes that are characterised by graceful canals. Amsterdam which has the best-known canals, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the city has even been nicknamed the “Venice of the North”.

DUTCH MASTERS The Dutch Masters, had worked between about 1605 and 1680: the Dutch Golden Age. Pieter Claesz, is considered as a master of breakfast piece still life, Frans Hals was the early master of portraiture while Rembrandt became the greatest portrait artist in the world in the middle of the Dutch Golden Age. Rachel Ruysch is known for paintings of flowers late in the period and is very important as one of the few female painters to become known for her work during this period.

CYCLING Cycling is a ubiquitous mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 31.2% of the people listing the bike as their main mode of transport. Cycling has a modal share of 27% of all trips nationwide. This high modal share for bicycle travel is enabled by excellent cycling infrastructure such as cycle paths, cycle tracks, protected intersections, ubiquitous bicycle parking and by making cycling routes shorter, quicker and more direct than car routes.

ELEVEN CITIES TOUR The Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) is the biggest ice-skating tour in the world. The event traditionally starts and finishes in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland province. The other ten towns the event passes through are Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum before returning to Leeuwarden.

BV.SCHEEPSWERF & MACHINEFABRIEK VAHALI Waaldijk 3, 6691 MB Gendt, THE NETHERLANDS mail: office@vahali.rs, VAHALISHIPYARDS.COM VAHALI PRODUCTION SERVICES DOO Aleksandra Markovica 227, 22201 Zasavica, SERBIA mail: office@vahali.rs, VAHALISHIPYARDS.COM

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