Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro welcomed His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Philadelphia during their working visit to the United States — touring Independence Hall, visiting the Liberty Bell, and convening a roundtable with the CEOs of Dutch multinational businesses to encourage them to increase investment in Pennsylvania.
During their visit, the Governor, First Lady, and Their Majesties highlighted the long-standing relationship between Pennsylvania and the Netherlands, dating back to the Commonwealth’s founding in 1681, while underscoring shared economic ties ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
“We’re honored to welcome Their Majesties to the Commonwealth as we celebrate the historic friendship between Pennsylvania and the Netherlands,” said Governor Shapiro. “For centuries, our people have benefitted from this productive relationship and my Administration looks forward to strengthening those ties and our shared commitment to economic opportunity and innovation.”
In 2025, trade between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Pennsylvania totaled $3.7 billion, up 17 percent from 2024, including more than $1.6 billion in total trade of pharmaceutical products, a growing and robust partnership in life sciences. With this growth in trade, the Netherlands sits as Pennsylvania’s sixth largest international job creator and 16th largest trading partner.
Following the tour of Independence Hall, the Governor and First Lady and Their Majesties joined Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at the Cira Centre for a roundtable discussion with CEOs of Dutch multinational businesses to discuss the economic ties between the Commonwealth and the Netherlands, and opportunities for further investment in Pennsylvania.
At the Cira Centre, DCED Secretary Siger and Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma signed a Letter of Understanding, laying out a roadmap for future economic collaboration specifically focused on advanced manufacturing and robotics, life sciences, agriculture, sports, and academia.
“The Netherlands is one of the largest foreign investors in the United States with a very strong presence in Pennsylvania,” said DCED Secretary Siger. “The Shapiro Administration is working to build that relationship further by making it easier to do business in the Commonwealth and creating an attractive ecosystem for companies in life sciences, agriculture, tech, and advanced manufacturing. Our Authorized Investment Representatives based in the Netherlands and other strategic markets are ready to work with businesses to explore new investment opportunities here in Pennsylvania and eliminate the barriers companies may encounter entering a new foreign market.”
“Our partnership with the Netherlands is rooted in a shared vision for the future of agriculture – one driven by innovation, sustainability, and the ability to feed communities at home and around the world,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “The Dutch are global leaders in agricultural technology and greenhouse production, demonstrating how agriculture can nourish people and strengthen our economies. That spirit resonates here in Pennsylvania, where farmers are embracing innovation that carries forward a proud agricultural legacy. Our Dutch partnership will be on full display in September as we host the GreenTech North America conference together, reinforcing our commitment to a more resilient future.”
While the Netherlands has emerged as a major European life sciences and pharmaceutical hub, Pennsylvania has also grown into a national life sciences powerhouse, employing more than 100,000 people across 3,100 companies.
Building on this shared success, after the roundtable, Dutch VB Greenhouses BV and US Little Leaf Farms PA LLC signed a contract with the intent to build a commercial greenhouse facility in Banks Township, PA and extend the company’s Pennsylvania campus into the largest indoor leafy greens campus in the world.
