Below you will find basic demographic and economic data for The Netherlands, plus specific information about the country's medical device and healthcare industries.
Dutch medical device industry: The Netherlands is a major hub for the European medical device industry. The Dutch medical device market was valued at US $3.4 billion in 2014. With a population of 17 million and an annual healthcare expenditure of over $97 billion, the medical device market in The Netherlands is attractive to importers.
The medical device manufacturing industry in The Netherlands is relatively small but advanced. Dutch manufacturers compete with European and global manufacturers both at home and abroad.
Opportunities in the Dutch market: The Dutch healthcare system faces similar problems as its European neighbors. Buyers are interested in technologies that treat The Netherlands' aging population and conserve costs. However, buyers also value innovative and minimally invasive products. User-friendly homecare products, orthopedic and implantables products, and diabetes care are well-received. There is also significant interest in medical software and e-health products.
Industry challenges in The Netherlands: Competition in the Dutch medical device sector is very tough because it is at the center of the European market. Several of the industry's largest medical device manufacturers have European headquarters in The Netherlands. Also, many top European manufacturers have a strong presence there. Importers will need a well-planned strategy to be successful in The Netherlands.
| THE NETHERLANDS | SWITZERLAND | GERMANY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,016,967 | 8,121,830 | 80,854,408 |
| Primary language(s) | Dutch | German | German |
| Total healthcare spending | $97 billion | $78.6 billion | $437 billion |
| Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP) | 10.9% | 11.7% | 11.3% |
| Healthcare expenditures per capita | $5694 (USD) | $9674 (USD) | $5411 (USD) |
| Expenditures on healthcare | Government: 87% Private: 13% |
Government: 66% Private: 34% |
Government: 77% Private: 23% |
| Size of medical device market (USD) | $3.4 billion (USD – 2014) | $3.5 billion (USD – 2014) | $26 billion (USD – 2014) |
| Number of hospital beds | 4.7 per 1000 people | 5 per 1000 people | 8.2 per 1000 people |
| Age distribution | 0-14 years: 17% 15-64 years: 65% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 15% 15-64 years: 67% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 13% 15-64 years: 66% 65 years and over: 21% (2015 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | Male: 79 years Female: 84 years |
Male: 80 years Female: 85 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Swiss franc | Euro (€) |
Want to see how The Netherlands compares to many other countries in Europe and around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.
Since the publication of ISO 13485:2016, risk management is a major concern for maintaining regulatory compliance in major medical device markets.
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