On March 3, 2025, significant developments emerged from the Netherlands’ business sector, spotlighting key investments and initiatives shaping the nation’s economic future.
ING, one of the Netherlands' leading financial institutions, made headlines by acquiring 17.6 percent of the shares of Van Lanschot Kempen, marking this as one of the country’s oldest independent banks, founded back in 1737. The acquisition was carried out from investment firm Reggeborgh for undisclosed financial terms, with Bloomberg estimating the transaction at around 350 million euros.
ING's CEO Steven van Rijswijk expressed strong confidence in Van Lanschot Kempen, describing it as "a respected, publicly traded, well-capitalized, and profitable wealth manager with a strong specialist position in the Netherlands and Belgium." He highlighted the deal as part of ING's strategy to expand within the wealth management sector, reinforcing the bank's commitment to rapidly growing its footprint.
Prior to this acquisition, ING already held 2.7 percent of the shares of Van Lanschot Kempen and, following the latest transaction, sees its stake rise to over 20 percent, showcasing its focus on long-term investment and trust in the bank's management team. The completion of the remaining purchase, which accounts for 7.2 percent, awaits regulatory approval, expected to take several months.
Banks across Europe are currently on a trend of consolidations, with institutions such as ABN AMRO and Rabobank similarly seeking potential acquisitions, as evidenced by their confirmations during recent earnings reports.
Further complementing these developments, Invest International, based in The Hague, introduced ambitious plans for establishing a public-private investment fund aimed at reducing the European dependence on key raw materials. Lara Muller, Director of New Business at Invest International, articulated this initiative during the Mineral Exploration and Mining Convention (PDAC) held recently in Toronto.
Joining her was Reinette Klever, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid, who underscored the importance of collaboration with various financial institutions like banks, pension funds, and EU partners to solidify the strategy behind this fund. The initiative is geared toward supporting broader European objectives concerning independence, primarily focusing on areas such as energy, digital technology, aerospace, and security. Countries like Germany, France, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, and Finland have already launched similar programs.
Lara Muller noted, “We cannot do this alone and will have to work together with friendly and like-minded countries. With this fund, we want to help secure access to other raw materials for our industry, help cover vulnerabilities and risks in international supply chains, and contribute to the competitiveness of the Netherlands.”
Critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are necessary for transitioning to clean energy, will play pivotal roles as part of this strategy. Muller articulated how the Netherlands is well-placed within the European supply chain, attributing its advantageous logistics infrastructure and strategic access via the Port of Rotterdam. The port serves as the main hub for raw materials imports and distribution across the continent.
Nevertheless, she indicated current challenges, expressing the country's heavy reliance on imported semi-finished products from China. Reducing this dependence remains central to both Dutch and EU strategies moving forward. “The solution lies in increasing access to existing raw material chains, whilst also improving efficiency,” Muller explained. The fund aspires to leverage Dutch technology for optimizing resource use, enhancing recycling systems, and exploring viable substitutes.
Lastly, addressing the needs for future aviation training, KLM also made significant strides through its collaboration with SPIE, which was announced during recent expansions at Schiphol Airport. The airline will see the construction of "The Link," a new flight simulator facility aimed at increasing training capacity significantly.
Bas Brouns, CFO at KLM, performed the ceremonial first piling for this project, highlighting the strategic importance of this initiative for the airline industry. The new building, set to launch mid-2026, will host five additional flight simulators, enabling enhanced training capabilities for both KLM and Transavia pilots.
The project involves technical and logistical challenges due to the heavy weight of the simulators and the necessity for specific foundations to mitigate ground vibrations impacting existing facilities. The construction site will comply with sustainable and energy-efficient guidelines, with plans set for achieving nearly energy-neutral building standards.
Other stakeholders, including Equans and Croonwolter&Dros, bring extensive experience to this partnership, complying with KLM's long-standing dedication to operational excellence.
Overall, these developments not only highlight the Netherlands’ commitment to enhancing its financial institutions and aviation training but reveal wider concerted efforts to safeguard independence and sustainability within pressing sectors such as energy and raw material resources.