What the Netherlands Makes: Cheese, Chips, Flowers, and Global Giants

The Dutch economy produces iconic goods and global corporations:

• Cheese: Gouda, Edam, Maasdam, Leyden—exported worldwide.
• Wooden Shoes (Klompen): Traditional clogs; now mainly souvenirs, some practical use.
• Windmills: 1,000+ historic; modern wind turbines (offshore leader).
• Bicycles: More bikes than people; Gazelle, Batavus, VanMoof brands.
• Flowers/Bulbs: #1 global exporter; Aalsmeer auction moves 20M/day.
• Heineken: World's 2nd-largest brewer; 190+ countries.
• Philips: Health tech, lighting, consumer electronics (spun off lighting as Signify).
• Shell (Royal Dutch Shell): Integrated energy giant (HQ moved to London 2021, dual listing).
• Unilever: Consumer goods (Dove, Hellmann's, Ben & Jerry's); Anglo-Dutch (now UK-incorporated).
• ASML: Semiconductor lithography monopoly (EUV); Europe's most valuable tech firm.

Small country, outsized industrial footprint.