Last April, NBSO Texas was proud to help welcome an impressive economic delegation from Texas to the Netherlands, led by Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, and Adriana Cruz, Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the State of Texas. The delegation also included representatives from the Ports of Corpus Christi and Houston, as well as economic development organizations from several of Texas’ key cities.
One of the highlights of the visit was showcasing a true Dutch icon: the Maeslant Barrier. This world-class example of Dutch flood protection offered a powerful setting to discuss the importance of Dutch-Texas cooperation, knowledge exchange, and innovation in flood resilience, including in relation to the Coastal Texas Project. The enthusiasm and engagement from the First Lady and the wider delegation were energizing and underlined the strong potential for continued collaboration. This exchange will be further strengthened in the coming months through the International Conference on Coastal Engineering in May and the I-STORM meeting in Rotterdam in September.
The long-standing cooperation between Texas and the Port of Rotterdam, particularly in the energy sector, remains one of the major economic connections between the Netherlands and Texas. With the development of the transatlantic hydrogen corridor, this relationship is only becoming more important. The delegation was warmly hosted by the Port of Rotterdam and Vice Mayor Robert Simons for an insightful and hands-on tour of the port and a visit to Portlantis, offering a close look at the role Rotterdam plays in global trade, energy and innovation.
Technology and innovation were also central themes during the visit. Site visits to NXP, ASML, and Brainport Eindhoven connected the Texas delegation directly to the Dutch semiconductor and high-tech ecosystem. With NXP and ASML both strongly present in Austin, and with the upcoming start-up and scale-up tech mission to Austin organized by NBSO Texas and ScaleNL, these connections open exciting opportunities for future collaboration between the Netherlands and one of Texas’ leading tech hubs.
The visit concluded on a high note with a reception at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joe Popolo. The reception brought together the Texas delegation and a strong group of Dutch companies with existing or potential business ties to Texas. NBSO Texas was pleased to help facilitate these valuable connections which contribute directly to deepening the economic relationship between the Netherlands and Texas.
