The report follows a New Zealand (NZ) study tour of 42 business and civic leaders in the Netherlands. The report distils the most transferable lessons from the visit. Both countries are small, export-reliant democracies that depend on reputation and relationships. It shows how the Netherlands has turned its small size into strength through practical thinking and steady delivery.

The aim is practical: to weigh which Dutch ideas could lift New Zealand’s economic performance, improve governance and strengthen social outcomes. The test applied is: are the ideas likely to deliver better results over time when adapted to New Zealand’s context?

The Netherlands does enjoy one structural advantage that NZ cannot replicate: proximity to the European single market. Acknowledging this difference, the Dutch still demonstrate how small nations can maximise their advantages through institutional quality. They align the national narrative, institutions and delivery.

The delegation also saw how public and private sectors work together in innovation clusters such as The Hague Security Delta, where more than 300 companies, universities and government agencies collaborate on cybersecurity, data and resilience. These partnerships show how cooperation and trust can turn shared goals into real progress.

The report is accompanied by a podcast.