Germany is the Netherlands’ largest trading partner, and the two countries share the longest joint border in Europe. Efficient cross-border cooperation strengthens supply chains and provides European companies with a boost for innovation and competitiveness. Proper alignment is crucial to fully exploit the benefits of the single market and contribute to Europe’s economic autonomy and stability.
Following the opening remarks by the German Ambassador, Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn, Director at Atradius Netherlands, will provide a data-driven perspective on European trade flows, emerging opportunities, trends, and associated risks, setting the framework for the evening’s dialogue.
During the dinner, we look forward to a constructive discussion on how Germany and the Netherlands can collaborate to further strengthen European trade, innovation, and economic resilience.
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 an extensive career in international relations and European policy. He studied history and German language and literature at the University of Cologne, where he earned his doctorate in history in 1988. Dr. Meyer-Landrut joined the German Federal Foreign Office in 1987 and has since built a career holding key positions within European and international diplomacy. He served at the German representation in Vienna and later in Brussels, and held various leadership roles 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, Dr. Meyer-Landrut served as the German Ambassador to France and Monaco, where he further strengthened bilateral relations between Germany and France. Subsequently, he was appointed Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey (starting September 2020). In the summer of 2024, he assumed his post 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 just an economic space; it forms a foundation for Europe’s geopolitical and economic stability. In a world of increasing trade tensions and the growing influence of superpowers such as China and the United States, a well-integrated single market offers European companies economies of scale, room for innovation, and strategic autonomy. At the same time, fragmentation, complex national regulations, and logistical obstacles continue to hinder cross-border trade and increase dependence on external suppliers.
In this context, the German-Dutch trade relationship is of particular strategic importance. Germany is the Netherlands’ largest trading partner, and the two countries share the longest joint border in Europe. Efficient cross-border cooperation strengthens supply chains and provides European companies with a boost for innovation and competitiveness. Proper alignment is crucial to fully exploit the benefits of the single market and contribute to Europe’s economic autonomy and stability.
Following the opening remarks by the German Ambassador, Tom Kaars Sijpesteijn, Director at Atradius Netherlands, will provide a data-driven perspective on European trade flows, emerging opportunities, trends, and associated risks, setting the framework for the evening’s dialogue.
During the dinner, we look forward to a constructive discussion on how Germany and the Netherlands can collaborate to further strengthen European trade, innovation, and economic resilience.
