Expertise
Our German expertise is based on four pillars:
• our knowledge of political culture
• our considerable network in politics and the media
• our working methods
• our language and cultural skills
Knowledge of political culture
Our clients can benefit from our knowledge and skills in relation to:
• German politics
• Drawing comparisons with the Netherlands
• Being able to switch between the various political and economic players
The scale of German politics
Germany is a large country with a federal structure. As a result it has many political and administrative levels and players. More than 600 members of parliament in the Bundestag represent 82 million residents. North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the 16 federal states, is home to 18 million people, for instance. That is two million more than the whole of the Netherlands.
But what characterises German politics is not just the big numbers. There are other aspects you need to take into account. The Bundesrat, or federal council which represents the states, has significantly more power over the legislative process than the Dutch Upper House, for instance. And while Dutch political culture is based on consensus and a pragmatic approach, there is more overt polarisation and party-political conflict in Germany in spite of there being a large coalition at the federal level.
Considerable network in politics and the media
We have a considerable network of contacts in both the Netherlands and Germany, covering ministers, politicians, civil servants, diplomats, platforms, scientific institutes and the media. Our years of experience and expertise in this particular sphere means we can offer strong, knowledgeable political advice. We can also draw on contacts in politics and the media on behalf of our clients whenever necessary.
Working methods
We can translate the implications of German politics for Dutch business decisions and vice versa, and use those political interpretations to advise our clients on their strategic decisions and action plans.
Language and cultural skills
To understand a country and its culture you have to speak its language, literally and figuratively. Our staff includes people who have spent years living and working in Germany, are of German heritage, or who have worked for German companies in the Netherlands. For certain projects we can also draw on German advisers in Berlin. Those advisers speak Dutch and have all spent a number of years living and working in the Netherlands.