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Conference "The French-Dutch Savoir-Faire"
On June 19, our members attended an inspiring conference followed by a networking cocktail on the theme “The French-Dutch Savoir-Faire"
This conference took place as part of the French-Dutch Economic Year 2025, a bilateral initiative launched during President Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to the Netherlands in April 2023.
This year aims to strengthen cooperation between France and the Netherlands around key strategic topics, including:
defense and security,
innovation and research,
ecological and digital transitions,
European strategic autonomy.
The event, organized by CCI France Netherlands, fully aligns with this ambition by highlighting the key role of French-Dutch businesses and ecosystems in driving the success of this collaboration.
The conference was held in the presence of H.E. François Alabrune, Ambassador of France to the Netherlands, and gathered our members, partners, and experts for two insightful panel discussions.
“The French-Dutch savoir-faire: recipe for commercial growth rooted in strong European values"
Panel 1 – Bridging Cultures: The Foundations of French-Dutch Economic Partnerships
Louis Wyers, Commercial Director – Ayvens
Hélène de Robien, Director of Benelux Growth – Doctolib
Cunera Vlaar, CEO – Sodexo
The speakers shared valuable insights and experiences, highlighting the unique business values of each country:
France: diplomacy, structured strategic thinking, emphasis on interpersonal relationships.
The Netherlands: direct communication, pragmatism, transparency, and a culture of consensus.
The takeaway? Rather than conflicting, these approaches are highly complementary. When well orchestrated, they help strengthen team efficiency, streamline decision-making, and support international growth.
Panel 2 – How French-Dutch Partnerships Unlock Economic Potential in Europe
Noud Duyzings, SVP Europe & Latin America – Air France-KLM
Nesrine Djebali, General Manager Benelux – Air Liquide
Nicolas Ledoux, Président – Vertical Sea
This second discussion showcased the power of French-Dutch partnerships through real-world examples in sectors such as healthcare, mobility, and energy. Key topics included:
how to build effective cross-border synergies,
the importance of diverse teams and intercultural leadership,
the need for a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation.
A European momentum at the local level
By combining French diplomacy with Dutch clarity, long-term strategy with entrepreneurial spirit, these collaborations foster the creation of more agile and inclusive work environments.
Beyond cultural differences, what emerges is a shared vision of responsible business and economic Europe—one that can rise to the challenges of the ecological and digital transitions, while placing people and cooperation at the center.
Acknowledgements
We warmly thank our speakers for their inspiring contributions,
as well as H.E. François Alabrune for his presence and support of this bilateral initiative.
A big thank you as well to our partners for their continued commitment: