The social and economic ties between the US and the Netherlands stretches back several centuries: Henry Hudson was in fact under contract with the Dutch East India Company when he explored the northeastern coast of the present-day United States.

Nearly two hundred years later, the Netherlands would become the second nation to officially recognize the United States of America when The Hague accepted the credentials of Minister John Adams on April 19, 1781.

As part of the original thirteen colonies, North/South Carolina and Georgia share a particularly long history with the Netherlands.  During the 17^th century, the Dutch and English engaged in several wars as they fought to maintain their position in the New World.  In the 1670s, after the English had seized assets on the northeastern coast from the Dutch, many Dutch moved south to Charleston, or Charles Town as it was then known.

Today the Netherlands is the third largest foreign investor in the US as a whole, and also the recipient of the most US foreign direct investment.  Dutch companies currently provide over 22,000 jobs in the U.S. Southern States.  Overall the Netherlands is respectively the sixth and seventh largest foreign investor in North/South Carolina and Georgia.

Globally-recognized Dutch companies from numerous industries have chosen to open offices and plants in Georgia (Atlanta): Unilever, AkzoNobel, ING, KPMG, DSM and Aegon – to name but a few.  As the world becomes increasingly global, this list will surely grow, together with the need to be part of an effective business network such as ours.

The Netherlands American Chamber of Commerce of the South East was founded in Atlanta in 2010 by Richard Sheinis and Bernard VanderLande. The Chamber has grown to be a well-known institute for business networking opportunities for both Dutch and American companies. As of today, we currently count 70 business memberships with approximately 160 members.