On May 27, AmCham hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026 and Chamber Luncheon with Eelco Eerenberg, Minister for Tax Affairs, Tax Administration and Customs at the Ministry of Finance. The AGM, held at the Kasteel de Wittenburg, included a summary of priorities and plans for AmCham in the year to come, in addition to the election and welcome of six new board members.
AmCham members had the opportunity to hear from three speakers during the luncheon. The guest of honor and U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Joseph Popolo, reflected on the 250-year-old partnership between the U.S. and the Netherlands, the economic ties that are vital, and the need for continued engagement to remain strong. AmCham President and Country Manager at Mastercard, Jan-Willem van der Schoot, voiced AmCham’s key messages and called for a shift from policy ambition to disciplined, practical execution, urging government and business to collaborate on solving structural bottlenecks to strengthen the Netherlands' and the EU’s competitive edge and transatlantic resilience. As the keynote speaker, Eelco Eerenberg reaffirmed the uniqueness of the U.S.-Netherlands partnership and outlined the government's commitment to enhancing the investment climate by cutting red tape, investing in talent, and reducing trade barriers to drive long-term economic growth.
Additionally, AmCham officially presented its 2026 Priority Points and the annual Investment Climate Study in collaboration with Bain & Company. This year, the results focused on collaboration, competitiveness, and commitment for a stronger investment climate. In AmCham’s view, three principles remain essential:
1. Continued Transatlantic Dialogue and Open Trade;
2. Competitiveness and Level Playing Field Within the EU;
3. Investment in the Netherlands’ Future Resilience.
As we look ahead, AmCham remains committed to being the bridge-builder between the Dutch and American business communities. We cordially thank all of those involved in the event, and look forward to the next 250 years of collaboration.
