Germany is the Netherlands’ largest trading partner, and the two countries share Europe’s longest common border. Efficient cross-border cooperation strengthens supply chains and acts as a lever for innovation and competitiveness among European companies. Close coordination is essential for fully leveraging the benefits of the single market and contributing to Europe’s economic autonomy and stability.
After the opening remarks by the German Ambassador, Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn, Director at Atradius, will provide insights into European trade flows, emerging opportunities, trends, and associated risks, offering a data-driven perspective to frame the evening’s dialogue.
During the dinner, we look forward to a constructive discussion on how Germany and the Netherlands can work together to further strengthen European trade, innovation, and economic resilience. We warmly invite you to participate in this dialogue.
For CEOs and Board Members, by invitation only
17:30 | Start of program (including presentation, discussion and 3-course dinner)
20:30 | End of formal program, opportunity for informal networking
Language: English
Ambassador’s Residence, The Hague
German Ambassador to the Netherlands
Dr. Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut is an experienced German diplomat with a long career in international relations and European policy. He studied history and German language and literature at the University of Cologne, where he obtained his doctorate (PhD) in history in 1988. Meyer-Landrut joined the German Federal Foreign Office in 1987 and has since built a career that has taken him through key assignments in European and international diplomacy. He served in the German representation in Vienna and later in Brussels, and held various leadership positions within the ministry and the Federal Chancellery. From 2011 to 2015, he was Director-General for European Policy and a close advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel on European affairs. Between 2015 and 2020, Meyer-Landrut was the German Ambassador to France and Monaco, where he strengthened bilateral relations between Germany and France. He was subsequently appointed Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey (from September 2020). In the summer of 2024, he took office as the German Ambassador to the Netherlands.
Managing Director Netherlands
Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn was appointed Director of Atradius Netherlands in April 2013. As Director, he is responsible for Account Management, sales through the broker channel, banks and direct sales, Claims, Finance, Control, HR, Marketing and Communications, and Facilities. In addition, he has a coordinating role for the entire organization in the Netherlands. Before becoming Director of the Dutch organization, Tom worked for Atradius in Amsterdam, London, Zurich, and again in Amsterdam. He has held various commercial positions, most recently as Regional Director for our Multinational Business Unit Global, where he was responsible for five countries. Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn studied law at the University of Amsterdam. He has worked in the financial and insurance sector for more than fifteen years.
The European single market is more than an economic space; it is a cornerstone for fostering Europe’s geopolitical and economic stability. In a world of rising trade tensions and the increasing influence of major powers such as China and the United States, a well-integrated single market provides European companies with economies of scale, innovation, and strategic autonomy. At the same time, fragmentation, complex national regulations, and logistical barriers continue to challenge cross-border trade and increase reliance on external suppliers.
In this context, the German-Dutch trade relationship holds particular strategic importance. Germany is the Netherlands’ largest trading partner, and the two countries share Europe’s longest common border. Efficient cross-border cooperation strengthens supply chains and acts as a lever for innovation and competitiveness among European companies. Close coordination is essential for fully leveraging the benefits of the single market and contributing to Europe’s economic autonomy and stability.
After the opening remarks by the German Ambassador, Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn, Director at Atradius, will provide insights into European trade flows, emerging opportunities, trends, and associated risks, offering a data-driven perspective to frame the evening’s dialogue.
During the dinner, we look forward to a constructive discussion on how Germany and the Netherlands can work together to further strengthen European trade, innovation, and economic resilience. We warmly invite you to participate in this dialogue.
