Health-Holland

France Spain Germany Belgium Luxembourg Italy Austria Switzerland Denmark Norway Sweden Poland The Netherlands United Kingdom Ireland 1,000 km 500 km Strategic location The Netherlands is a first-rate, strategic location for international businesses whose activities extend into Europe and other parts of the world. Its favourable location guarantees quick and easy access to the European marketplace. In fact, 95% of Europe’s most lucrative consumer markets are located within 24 hours of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The Netherlands is considered a strategic hub for distribution within Europe, thanks to its location and highly ranked airports (including Amsterdam Schiphol) and seaports (e.g. Rotterdam, Amsterdam). It boasts the largest number of distribution centres and the largest inland shipping fleet in Europe. The Netherlands is also one of the most wired countries in the world with 98% of all households having access to the Internet. European Medicines Agency From March 2019, Amsterdam is the new home to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA, a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU), ensures the safety, effectiveness and quality standards of all medicines available on the EU market. The EMA assesses, supervises and monitors the scientific development of medicines in the EU and protects human and animal health in 28 EU Member States and the countries of the European Economic Area. In other words, it monitors a market that serves more than 500 million EU residents. The EMA’s relocation from London to Amsterdam is a direct consequence of Brexit. The move will enhance the already dynamic Dutch pharmaceutical sector. Not only does it put the Netherlands in the spotlight, but it also offers huge opportunities to attract new biopharmaceutical companies and service providers to the Netherlands. The Dutch government expects that the arrival of the EMA in Amsterdam will create thousands of new jobs in the pharmaceutical industry and the service sector. Moreover, specialised lawyers, patent experts and consultants will also relocate to Amsterdam in order to be close to the EMA. Insiders expect that the Dutch medicines research industry will also receive a significant boost. 36