Netherlands Business Features & News

The Port of Rotterdam handled almost 235 million tons of cargo in the first six months of 2010, a 14.8 percent increase for the same period in 2009. The Port of Rotterdam enjoyed the fastest growth in Europe, for January - June 2010, with a 14.8% increase on the same period in 2009. The port handled 235 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2010. Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO, belives that the growth is due to " an upturn in world trade, especially that... more...

The city of Amsterdam has announced plans to increase the number of recharging points for electric cars from 100 to almost 2,000. Currently, there are 150 electric cars using the existing stations, but the increased number of recharging points should make recharging more convenient, and encourage larger numbers of drivers to switch to electric cars. This annoucement follows Amsterdam's 2009 goal of having 5% (10,000 vehicles) of all cars in the city electric by 2015. In addition,... electric cars...

Science Port Holland has set out to be an international science park and hotbed for high tech knowledge exchange and innovation, located in one of Europe’s key innovation regions. Its main goal is to provide an attractive environment in which technology innovators can develop their innovations for commercial success and market implementation. It will accommodate renowned knowledge institutes, start-ups and international companies. Leading the way for Science Port is Leiden Bio... Science Park in Holland...

A hospital in Amsterdam has achieved a world first in rheumatism research. The Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam has begun research into microchips that are inserted under patients’ skin to relieve symptoms of this debilitating condition.  The microchip transmits an electrical signal that reduces inflammation in the joints - the cause of the terrible pain suffered by Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. Microchips have been tested on rats and mice successfully; the next step is to... life sciences Amsterdam

Dutch scientists awarded for revolutionary IVF research Scientists working at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, have won a prize for their research on IVF, using the EmbryoScope (embryo monitoring system). Their work has been called "the future of IVF". The scientists have won the European award given by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE); this is the third time the centre has been recognised by the ESHRE. The IVF analysts Sanne de Jong, Amy Down,... more