Consulate General of the Netherlands in Chicago

Consul General Eric Strating made his first official visit to the Commonwealth of Kentucky last month, with a program focused on controlled-environment agriculture, manufacturing, knowledge-sharing, and government. Dutch-American trade and investment supports nearly 10,000 jobs in Kentucky, with flourishing ties between the Netherlands' world-class agtech sector and a growing ecosystem in the Commonwealth. Highlights of the trip included: ⚙𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡-𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: a fascinating stop at the new WILA | Press Brake Productivity US HQ in Louisville, where the company is producing innovative new solutions in tooling, automation, and precision for the US metal fabrication market. 🌱🍓 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝-𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: the Consul General visited 80 Acres Farms, one of Kentucky’s leading vertical farming operations and a key investor in the Netherlands (they have a pioneering research center in the Hague), and helped cut the ribbon on the new Bosch Berries facility in Somerset, underscoring how Dutch AgTech expertise can help drive rural economic growth and advance sustainable food production systems. 🏫 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞: at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment we discussed the CEA Pathways Project, an initiative funded by the CG in Chicago, the Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur, and the Kentucky Horticulture Council to advance CEA knowledge by engaging with growers of all scales, developing critical resources to support growth, and gaining business insights to help Dutch companies better understand commercial opportunities. 🏛️ 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: in a meeting with Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Jeff Noel and Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, we explored how connecting Dutch innovation with areas strength in Kentucky’s agricultural and economic sectors, we can create new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and shared prosperity. A huge thank you to Daniel da Costa, Perry van Adrichem, and Trevor Terry for making this trip a success. Your vision and dedication to strengthening ties between the Netherlands and Kentucky truly highlight the spirit of collaboration that drives this partnership forward. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing this important work together! NLWorks | Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the USA | HortiTech | Netherlands Agricultural Network in the USA and Canada | Bosch Growers

Do you want to help grow the economy of the Netherlands by building bridges between the Netherlands, Chicago, and the broader Midwest? Are you proactive, detail-oriented, and with a keen understanding of the 🇳🇱🇺🇸 business environment? The Consulate General is looking for a new Senior Economic Policy Officer, tasked with helping Dutch companies as they expand in the US market. Bonus points if you have subject-matter expertise in the mobility sector. The Midwest is home to 80 million people with an economy the size of Germany, and Midwest-Netherlands economic ties support hundreds of thousands of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic—help us achieve our mission to make those relationships even stronger. More info here: https://lnkd.in/gKxCGv-8 Interested applicants should reach out to Jeroen Beekman (Jeroen.beekman@minbuza.nl) for more information.

The Netherlands and the Midwest share deep cultural ties—in heritage, in visual arts, in music, in architecture & design, and in film—and we take pride in these flourishing ties. A few highlights from a busy 2024 in Dutch Culture in the Midwest: 📜 Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar dedicated a bilingual Dutch-English interpretive panel telling the story of Dutch immigrants who helped freedom seekers escaping slavery at a site on the banks of the Little Calumet River on Chicago's south side. https://lnkd.in/g3QPZ9HJ 🏛️ The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago was the first US museum to host a capsule version of a Rijksmuseum exhibition on the history of Dutch Colonial Slavery. https://lnkd.in/gzTVF2FY 🎨 Dutch street artists Leon Keer and Massina (Marije Spelbos) painted three massive murals in the Midwest with the support of DutchCulture USA, in Holland, Michigan, Salina, Kansas, and Cincinnati, Ohio. 🎹 Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen made their debut at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in October, performing Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos. https://lnkd.in/gSy7qipe 🪟 Dutch artist Anneke Eussen exhibited her compositions of recycled glass at Chicago's DOCUMENT gallery. https://lnkd.in/gbbxWYEz 🖼️ Four curators from the Netherlands joined invitation-only Curatorial Exchange program at EXPO CHICAGO art fair. https://lnkd.in/gmjBjZY6 📽️ Films from the Netherlands screened at the Architecture & Design Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival Summer Screenings Series.

Last Friday, we celebrated a milestone in Dutch-American agritech partnership, as Consul General Eric Strating helped cut the ribbon at a 30-acre Bosch Berries greenhouse in Somerset, Kentucky. The Netherlands is the capital of the global greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture sector. Now, Wouter van den Bosch and Tijmen van den Bosch, two visionary Dutch growers, are bringing their family’s agricultural expertise from Bleiswijk in the Netherlands to the heart of Kentucky. In only four years, Kentucky has grown to over 13.8 million square feet of production under glass or plastic, making it second in the U.S. for fresh produce production under cover—an achievement reflecting the power of collaboration. The Netherlands is proud to support this spirit of collaboration. Partnerships like the KY-NL Consortium show how Dutch expertise in sustainable agriculture can combine with American ambition to deliver real results like: ✅ Reducing food miles, ensuring fresher produce ✅ Creating jobs and economic opportunities locally ✅ Meeting global challenges like food security and sustainability The Bosch brothers are producing far more than berries—they are growing opportunities for healthier communities and stronger international ties. At the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Chicago, we are committed to fostering partnerships like this, which demonstrate the strength of Dutch-American agricultural and economic diplomacy. Congratulations to the Bosch Berries team, the Somerset community, and all who made this possible. This is only the beginning! NLWorks | Bosch Growers | Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development | Kentucky Department of Agriculture

It was another successful year for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency team in Chicago, with a steady flow of high-value projects landing in the Netherlands. Innovative companies from the Midwest continue to #InvestinHolland, finding the Netherlands a compelling European home because of its talent pool (diverse, digitally skilled, multilingual, and embracing a healthy work-life balance), its innovation opportunities (the renowned triple-helix innovation ecosystem which nurtures new technologies), and its sustainable future (circular economy expertise and a commitment to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050). A few highlights from a busy 2024:   ● GE HealthCare: the Chicago-based medical giant chose to expand its facility in Eindhoven to develop and manufacture radioactive markers for diagnosing and treating diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer (aka 'personalized medicine'). The Dutch operation will evolve into GE's Centre of Excellence for the newest isotope tracers, growing into a new lab facility with four production lines—this 'Cyclotron' will be located on the Eindhoven University of Technology campus. Currently 300 people are employed at the operation in Eindhoven.   ● Infinite Acres: the Netherlands was the natural choice for Ohio’s 80 Acres Farms first-of-its-kind research center. The technology-focused subsidiary of the American vertical farming company chose the Hague for its Field Lab and Experience Center to foster collaboration with the companies and research institutes driving innovation in the Netherlands’ world-leading high-tech agriculture community. https://lnkd.in/g9h4HiUz   ● Kalsec Inc.: drawn to Gelderland for its world-class food ecosystem, the Michigan-based company chose Wageningen for their new SPICE Lab center-of-excellence. An R&D innovation center focused on natural colors, flavors, and food preservation technologies, the SPICE Lab will enable Kalsec to tap into the agrifood innovation cluster in Regio Foodvalley and around Wageningen University & Research. https://lnkd.in/gfVKXFKC   Interested in exploring what opportunities the Netherlands may hold for your company? Reach out to NFIA Chicago Director Paul Kleijne.

We had the incredible honor of welcoming Eric Strating, the new Consul General of the Netherlands, to our WILA USA facilities this week! It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase WILA USA’s journey and growth in Kentucky. We're proud to represent Dutch innovation and excellence as we continue to expand in the U.S. Thank you, Consul General Strating, for taking the time to visit and learn about our company!

Dutch-American trade and investment supports more than 175,000 jobs in the 13 states covered by the Consulate General, and 2024 was another banner year for Dutch companies doing business in the Midwest. Home to 80 million people and an economy the size of Germany's, Dutch companies continue to find the Midwest a successful gateway to the US market, from manufacturing and tech to agriculture and food. A short, non-exhaustive roundup of a few 🇳🇱🇺🇸 companies who joined us or notably grew their footprint in the Midwest in 2024: 💳 Innovative Dutch payments platform Adyen expanded their Chicago tech hub, which has grown to nearly 200 people in just two years. https://lnkd.in/gGrDzGQZ ⚙️ High-tech steel processing machinery manufacturer Voortman Steel Machinery were joined by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker as they broke ground on their major new facility in Monee. https://lnkd.in/g9Yh8X_H 🍓 Bosch Growers are opening a new Bosch Berries farm in Kentucky that will leverage Dutch greenhouse expertise in Somerset. https://lnkd.in/gK7Pe5gh 🥐 Bakery equipment manufacturer Rademaker BV opened their first US Rademaker Experience Center in Illinois as a demonstration facility for their innovative bread production lines. https://lnkd.in/gudxfGQb 🔧 Dutch mezzanine manufacturer Profielnorm are constructing their first US manufacturing facility outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan. https://lnkd.in/gQKDWbKY 🌱 AI agriculture company Source.ag opened their first US office in Chicago as the company helps North American greenhouse growers increase their yields. https://lnkd.in/eAQv3Ckj 🪟 Innovative Dutch glass technologists CelSian continued to grow their presence in the heart of the US glass industry—Toledo, Ohio. https://lnkd.in/g5XxigKZ

The Netherlands and the Midwest are two global hubs of the food and agriculture sector, and 2024 was another busy year growing stronger partnerships between those two world-leading ecosystems, from cultivating the controlled-environment agriculture consortium leveraging Dutch expertise to build a sustainable greenhouse agritech industry in Kentucky to the Chicago Agrifood Scaleup program plugging innovative Dutch foodtech companies in with US partners. 🇳🇱🇺🇸 trade and investment in agriculture and food creates jobs, sparks innovation, and supports sustainable food systems on both sides of the Atlantic. A few highlights from another successful year tending these flourishing ties: 🌱 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲-𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝-𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐦: Trevor Terry hosted a regular flow of Dutch companies, government, and knowledge institutes in Kentucky, connecting them to growers and universities as the consortium grew to include more partners and also deepened its focus on CEA workforce education, supply chains and distribution channel development, and tech adoption by small and medium-sized growers. 🌿 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: Andreea Bota, InnovationQuarter, and Rotterdam Partners brought six innovative Dutch scaleups to the Midwest to plug them into the agrifood ecosystem. Over a program that included company site visits, a trade show, a pitch event at our partners citizenM hotels, investor meetings, and a roundtable at the Chicago Council for Global Affairs, participants Cano-ela, Dutch Lion, GreenAnt, Pacha de Cacao, Skytree, and Source.ag admirably represented the cutting-edge Dutch agrifood sector and supercharged their US market entry. 🫘 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: strong participation from the Dutch food sector at Bridge2Food in Minneapolis underlined opportunities for international collaboration in the alternative protein industry, with speaking roles for Dutch precision fermentation scale-ups revyve and Vivici, as well as good representation from Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur. Dutch tech and innovation coupled with the upper Midwest’s enormous grain industry and research expertise is an exciting opportunity for advancing sustainability in the food industry. 🟠 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: we’re consistently impressed and inspired by the incredible Dutch presence at industry events in the Midwest, from AmericanHort's Cultivate in Columbus to the Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit and PACK EXPO in Chicago—it’s energizing to organize events, attend programming, and make connections for such a world-leading group. Reach out if you’ll be in the Midwest in 2025!

Naturalization ceremonies for new Dutch citizens are one of the most enjoyable parts of a Consulate’s work. Yesterday, in a ceremony led by Consul General Eric Strating and our consular team, we welcomed four Dutch citizens, promising to respect and uphold the duties, rights, and freedoms that entails. Gefeliciteerd and welcome to our new compatriots! 🎉🇳🇱🎉

The Dutch medical sector is a world leader in medical imaging, from innovative AI and robotics to groundbreaking research—and that vibrant ecosystem is well-represented in Chicago this week at #RSNA2024. Spanning industry giants like Philips, startups and radiologists from across the world-class Dutch university medical centers, be sure to connect with the Netherlands' innovative medical sector if you are attending this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference. Dutch exhibitors include: Lamboo Medical: South Hall Level 3 — 2784 Medis Medical Imaging: North Hall Level 3 — 7209 Philips: North Hall Level 3 — 6142, 6730, MS314 and MS315 ScreenPoint Medical: South Hall Level 3 — 5316 — AI Showcase Soteria Medical BV: South Hall Level 3 — 2301 There are also a host of scientific sessions featuring radiologists and researchers from the Netherlands, with Radboudumc, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, UMC Utrecht, UMCG, and Amsterdam UMC among those with presenters, moderators, and panelists. The meet the #InvestInHolland Life Sciences & Health team is also in town, if you'd like to discuss how your company can fit into the Netherlands’ rich ecosystem of innovators in medical technology. Learn more and set up a meeting with that team: https://lnkd.in/eA9TkG7f