The focus of Hungarian economic diplomacy is to support the country's export activities and to attract foreign investment to Hungary. The Commercial Office of the Hungarian Embassy in the Netherlands is the first point of contact for Hungarian companies interested in entering the Dutch market. We support them on a daily basis. We also encourage Dutch companies to invest in Hungary and provide all necessary assistance for this.
The Netherlands is one of the world's most significant economies, which is confirmed by international rankings: according to the latest data, in 2025 it ranked 8th on the ’Global Innovation Index’, 3rd on the ’EU Innovation Scoreboard 2025’, and 8th on the ’World Competitiveness Index 2026’ competitiveness list. It is also a leader in transparency, ranking 8th on the ’Corruption Perception Index 2025’ anti-corruption list, while it is placed 19th in the world on the ’International Property Rights Index 2025’ ranking concerning the protection of intellectual property rights. In addition to all this, its business culture, digital, and transport infrastructure are also exceptionally developed. The Netherlands is recognised as the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products and the second-largest exporter of goods.
The Netherlands is an important foreign trade partner for Hungary, being the 11th largest trading partner in terms of exports and the 7th largest in terms of imports in 2025, accounting for approximately 4,2% of Hungary's total foreign trade in goods. According to HCSO (KSH) data, the value of Hungarian exports to the Netherlands increased by 2,4%, reaching 5.17 billion euros in 2025. Dutch exports to Hungary amounted to 6,83 billion euros in 2025.
Based on the most recent 2024 Central Bank of Hungary (MNB) data, the Netherlands ranked as the 7th largest ultimate investor among European countries in Hungary and 12th globally, reflecting strong and sustained business confidence in the country.
According to the latest data from the MNB, the Netherlands was the third most important destination for Hungarian outward foreign direct investment in 2024 (following Cyprus and Croatia), accounting for €4 billion (HUF 1,641,780 million). Although the total stock decreased by approximately 5% compared to the previous year, the Netherlands still represented an 8.8% share of all Hungarian outward investments, primarily driven by its favorable tax environment.
Major Dutch companies in Hungary include: Aalberts integrated piping systems (piping systems), Aalberts surface technologies (coatings, surface treatment), Agrifirm (agriculture), AkzoNobel (paint manufacturing), FrieslandCampina (dairy industry), Grow Group (agriculture), Heineken (brewing industry), Hunland (agriculture), Leolux (furniture industry), NN (insurance), Philips (healthcare industry), Randstad (human resources), Shell (oil and gas industry), Signify (lighting technology), Tekoma (metal industry), Unilever (FMCG), Zorge (plastics industry).
Hungary, as an open and export-oriented economy, is dedicated to continuously enhancing its global trade performance. We are proud to present the "Outstanding Exporters of Hungary" brochure, a comprehensive guide featuring the flagship enterprises of the Outstanding Exporters of Hungary Program (OEHP). This publication offers an overview of our nation’s leading companies – businesses that embody Hungarian knowledge, ambition, innovation, and a deep respect for tradition.
Our economic strength is built on the resilience and world-class quality of our exporters, whose impact spans from cutting-edge technology to traditional craftsmanship. By exploring this brochure, you can identify new strategic partners across various sectors and connect with reliable, innovation-driven Hungarian enterprises ready for international markets. We invite you to discover these top-tier businesses and seize the opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of Hungarian industry.
Download the full brochure here:
https://exporthungary.gov.hu/download/7/c8/83000/OEPP_2025.pdf
Useful links
Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency
Hungarian Export Promotion Agency
Netherlands-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry for Innovation and Culture
Hungarian Central Statistical Office
National Tax and Customs Administration
For further information please contact the Trade Office.