The Netherlands is one of the smallest countries in the world. It measures only 41,528 square kilometres. But it is still the world’s sixth biggest exporter and investor.The Dutch used to make a lot of money from growing fruit, vegetables and grain, fishing and cattle farming. Today we earn most of our money from trade and industry.

Some Dutch companies became very big during the 20th century. Philips Electronics, the company that invented the CD, started out as a light bulb factory in 1892. Today it is active in many different countries. Heineken started brewing beer in Amsterdam, but now it has breweries all over the world. Unilever, which started in 1801, has become one of the world’s largest producers of cleaning products and food. In fact, the washing powder you use to wash your clothes may well come from Unilever in Rotterdam.