Each month BCD Travel offers its top five tips for corporate travellers doing business in a particular country. This month we look at the Netherlands, the birthplace of BCD Travel.
- Do not use a contact’s first name until invited to do so
- If invited to someone’s home, bring a gift of quality chocolates, a potted plant or a book
- Dutch businesspeople do not engage in small talk. They like to get straight into the meeting. Include lots of detail in your presentation and be mindful that decisions are made by consensus, so an agreement might take some time. Do not deviate from the agenda and always adhere to starting and finishing times
- Important details to impart are your personal academic credentials and how long your company has been operating
- Punctuality is taken very seriously. Being late or cancelling a meeting could damage your relationship significantly