• Planning, regulating, and organizing are prevailing values in this culture.
  
  
• Punctuality is essential and expected in Dutch business culture, whether for business or social engagements.
  
  
• If you know that you will be late for an appointment, be sure to phone ahead and give a plausible excuse.
  
  
• The Dutch stress tremendous importance on the efficient use of time. Arriving even a few minutes late to a business meeting may cause your Dutch counterparts to doubt your competence and reliability.
  
  
• Any company that cannot quickly and promptly deliver a service upon request will not succeed with Dutch consumers.
  
  
• Appointments will be carefully scheduled; never assume that they can be changed at the last minute. Again, spontaneity is not considered desirable in Dutch business culture.
  
  
• Give at least one or two weeks' notice for an appointment made by telephone or fax. For appointments made by mail, allow for a full month.
  
  
• Always acknowledge when you have received important business letters or documents such as contracts.
  
  
• Business letters may be written in English. Maintain a formal tone in all of your correspondence. Even if you are on a first-name basis with the correspondent, it's recommended that you use his or her professional title in your letters.
  
  
• Keep in mind that Dutch executives frequently take extended vacations during June, July, August, and late December. Consequently, avoid planning a business trip to the Netherlands in the summer, since this is the most popular time for people to go on holiday.
  
  
• Business hours, generally, are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  
  
• Banking hours, generally, are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some banks have Thursday night hours as well.
  
  
• Store hours vary and can remain open between 6 a.m. and midnight Monday through Friday. Generally, supermarkets will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Other stores, however, will close at 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
  

Reprinted with permission.
Executive Planet