About this tour
Amsterdam is one of the most evocative cities in the world. From the 17th century “Golden Age” architecture to the canals, bicycles and café culture, it is a magnet for tourists. It offers great sightseeing opportunities, both within Amsterdam itself and down the Dutch Western coast, where beautiful seascapes blend in with historic windmills, and every color of tulip imaginable.
It is less known though that Amsterdam is a major financial center; surprising, given that Amsterdam literally invented modern finance in the early 1600s. It has a historic, and still relevant, stock exchange as well as large banks and insurance companies, both Dutch and international. It is also a major location for European HQs of multinational groups.
The Hague offers a different feel entirely. With fewer tourists and a more cerebral feel, it is the location of the Dutch government, and therefore the home to businesses who want to be close to the key decision makers, both domestic and foreign.
Learning outcomes
- Gain a practical understanding of financial markets in Europe (specifically the Netherlands), and how these may differ compared to the U.S.
- Learn how different-sized businesses deal with issues of international management (including cash and risk management) and tie in with the issues discussed in class
- Understand different business cultures and the impact they may have on strategies, and see first-hand how business strategy may have to react to events in markets
- Understand how international businesses approach risk analysis, particularly given the current turbulence in geopolitics and world trade
Possible activities
- Visit a global financial player, like the major Dutch banks ING, Rabobank, and ABN AMRO
- Visit players in the fintech arena, where the Netherlands is a major innovator
- Visit Rotterdam port, the largest port in Europe, to understand how global businesses think about logistics and the practicalities of trade in turbulent times
- Visit an asset manager like NN Investment Partners and Robeco
- Visit the Amsterdam stock exchange, the oldest securities market in the world