Socio-economic environment: The Netherlands

The Netherlands have over 16 million inhabitants or 385 inhabitants per square kilometre. The level of urbanisation is high: 89,4%.

The Netherlands have a GDP of 374 billion Euro or 23.750 Euro per inhabitant. The GDP per head in PPP is a little above average to European countries. Economically, the Netherlands have the opportunity to invest in stimulation of IST, on a National level as well as on an individual level.

The Dutch ICT and Telecom industry is well developed, but focused more on components than on end-products. In the field of end-products, the Netherlands have some niche-players. The penetration of PC's at home is high, as is the ISDN infrastructure. From a commercial and infrastructural perspective, the Netherlands can compete strongly in the IST market. Rates of (mobile) telephony average in the Netherlands. The market can introduce IST services successfully on a lager scale.

The wealth of an individual elderly person is high in the Netherlands. Continuous education by 54-64 year old people is below average, but higher compared to most other European countries. Related to the high penetration of PC's this could imply average knowledge and potential high interest of elderly people in the current supply of IST services.