Philippines Netherlands Business Council - PNBC

05/10/2026

What a vibrant PNBC Annual Meeting, followed by an even more lively members' dinner! Thank you ING MD Victor Abad for hosting and briefing us, thank you Ambassador J.Eduardo Malaya, DepEd Usec Ma. Corazon Dichosa, BOI ED Rita Aldaba and Magnolia Ashley for your contributions to our meeting.
With the induction of our new members Luuk Rietvelt, Chris SB Kopp, Donna Delizo, Friso Dubbelboer and Victor Abad.

01/10/2026

22/09/2026

News about the popular purple root from the Philippines!

World’s largest producer wants to capitalise on yam at centre of viral craze

22/09/2026

The PNBC welcomes the completion of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the Philippines and the EU. It will set conducive conditions for trade and investment and create opportunities for market and public procurement access. Congratulations to the negotiating teams for this achievement!

The Philippine Embassy welcomes the announcement that the Philippines and the European Union are about to conclude talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and looks forward to its formal conclusion soon, as announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 22 September, following a telephone call with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a statement, the European Commission outlined the mutual benefits expected from the agreement, including the elimination of tariffs on both sides and improved market access; clear rules on government procurement; enhanced protection of intellectual property rights; facilitation of digital trade; transparent rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade; sustainability commitments; and ambitious provisions on energy and raw materials.

The agreement is expected to “unlock stronger trade and investment flows” and “reinforce the EU’s strategic engagement with a like-minded partner in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The Embassy congratulates the the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry and the relevant government agencies comprising the Philippine negotiating team, led by DTI Undersecretary Allan Gepty, for their committed efforts in the negotiations.

The Philippines and the EU first launched negotiations for a FTA in 2015, with talks resuming in March 2024. // END

02/07/2026

According to the World Bank the Philippines has now reached upper-middle income status. It achieved its reclassification through broad-based expansion. GDP grew at an average of 5.8% per year over five years, reflecting gains across all major industries, not a single sector boom, but an economy-wide shift.

The World Bank upgrade marks a long-sought economic milestone for the Philippines, but high prices, underemployment, and income inequality continue to plague millions of Filipinos

25/06/2026

Congratulations to Eppo Horling, outgoing Honorary Consul General and active PNBC Advisory Council member. A job well done! Wishing Joost Horling the best of luck as his successor.

21/06/2026

Meet our newest member Chris Sta Brigida-Kopp, a British-Filipino entrepreneur and hospitality professional based in Amsterdam, with interests in property management and consultancy services.
Alongside his business activities, he is actively involved in community and civic initiatives that strengthen connections between the Philippines, the Netherlands, and the wider Filipino diaspora in Europe.
He is the founder and chair of both Filipino LGBT Europe and Ayuda sa Amsterdam; and the Deputy Area Commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Chris is a devoted husband to David and a proud father to Ziggy.
A very warm welcome to Chris SB Kopp
Pictured here with our chairperson Saskia de Lang

12/06/2026

Happy Kalayaan!
Happy Philippines Independence Day!

08/06/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the terrible earthquake in Mindanao and their families 😢🇵🇭😢🇵🇭🛘🛘

02/06/2026

We are honoured and proud to welcome to Luuk Rietvelt as our newest PNBC member. Luuk is Area Sales Manager Asia & the Pacific at Colubris. From its headquarters in the Netherlands, Colubris delivers cost-efficient, compliant, and integrated wastewater treatment and reuse solutions for industrial and municipal clients. With over 40 years of experience and more than 3,000 projects delivered across 80+ countries, the company has built a strong global track record.
In the Philippines, Colubris already has operational references across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Through Luuk’s involvement, Colubris aims to further support Philippine clients in meeting DENR effluent standards with reliable, efficient, and low-operational-cost treatment solutions.

Luuk lived in Manila for nearly 10 years before returning to the Netherlands in 2024. During his time there, he worked, among others, for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, was one of the founding members of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (DCCP) in 2016, and was actively involved in the Dutch and wider European business community.