Her Majesty Queen Máxima attended the presentation of the State of SMEs 2025 annual report by the Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship on Tuesday afternoon, November 18, at Unmanned Valley on the former Valkenburg naval airbase in Katwijk. The annual report was presented by the Committees chairman, Jacques van den Broek, to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Vincent Karremans, and the chairman of MKB-Nederland, Jacco Vonhof. Prior to this, a working visit took place. Unmanned Valley is a cluster of start-up companies and knowledge institutions collaborating on the development and testing of unmanned technology for civilian and military purposes.
The State of SMEs annual report is a trend analysis of small and medium-sized enterprises, mainly based on the most recent data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The figures and analyses provide insight into the economic situation of SMEs in the Netherlands. The title of the eleventh annual report is Breakthroughs for SMEs: from analysis and advice to action. As in previous years, the Committee notes a flattening growth of labor productivity in SMEs, which negatively affects the competitive position of the Netherlands. The Committee advises the cabinet, among other things, to establish a national multi-year agenda for effective business policy and a healthy business climate. This requires good cooperation between government and SME entrepreneurs.
During the working visit, Queen Máxima, Minister Karremans, Jacco Vonhof, and Jacques van den Broek were given a short tour of several start-up companies at Unmanned Valley. Entrepreneurs, researchers, and the government collaborate in an innovative ecosystem at the former naval airbase on the development of unmanned and autonomous technology, including robots and drones.
After the tour, the Committee chairman presented the annual report, followed by a roundtable discussion with all Committee members, Minister Karremans, Jacco Vonhof, and some entrepreneurs from Unmanned Valley about the recommendations in the annual report.
The Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship was established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs to stimulate entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. The Committee focuses on strengthening the growth potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. Queen Máxima is a member of the Committee.
RVD, no. 307
