How many billions of euros do the dutch have invested in stocks by estimate?

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 2% of the labour force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country is one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment.

At this moment the Netherlands is the 16th largest economy of the world. (see: List of countries by GDP (nominal)) Between 1998 and 2000 annual economic growth (GDP) averaged nearly 4%, well above the European average. Growth slowed considerably in 2001-05 as part of the global economic slowdown. 2006 however, showed a promising 2.9% growth. Yearly growth accelerated to 4.2% in the third quarter of 2007. Inflation is 1.3% and is expected to stay low at about 1.5% in the coming years. According to the definition used by the Dutch Statistics Agency CBS, unemployment is currently at 4.0% of the labor force. By Eurostat standards however, unemployment in the Netherlands is at only 3.3% - the lowest rate of all EU member states.

The stern financial policies of the Balkenende cabinets, which are often identified with finance minister Gerrit Zalm, have led to a deficit of only 0.3% of GDP in 2005, coming from 2.1% in 2004. The deficit is expected to show a small rise to 0.5% in 2006, and slight surplus in 2007. In 2006 public debt stood at 51% of GDP and is expected to fall below 50% in 2007 for the first time in 25 years, down from over 80% in the early nineties.

The Netherlands is member of the European Union, the OECD and the World Trade Organization.

Trade and Investment
The Netherlands, which derives more than two-thirds of GDP from merchandise trade, had strongly positive balance of payments for 2005 estimated at 鈧?1.5 billion. [link cbs] Leading export markets (2005) are Germany with 25.1%, Belgium with 12.2% and the United Kingdom and France with both 9.4%. Leading suppliers (2004) are Germany (17%), Belgium (9.4%), China (8.8%) and the United States (7.8%). As becomes clear from these figures, Germany is by far the most important trading partner of The Netherlands.

Leading foreign investors in the Netherlands (2005) are the United States with 18.5%, the United Kingdom (14.1%), Germany (12.0%) and Belgium (10.1%).