The first excursion of the Study Tour was to the Netherlands Office in Taipei, located in the business district. After we were welcomed by two employees, the first presentation was given by Rowan on who we are, and why we are having a study trip to Taiwan and Australia. Afterward, the employees held a presentation on the practices of the Netherlands Office and some cultural information. Of course, a tour through the small office was provided. This visit report discusses some notable elements of the presentation and the discussion afterward.

As the Netherlands does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country, Taipei does not have an embassy, but a representative office. The office focuses on commerce, investments, innovation, culture and agriculture, and in doing so, it promotes cooperation between Taiwanese and Dutch institutes and companies.

The representation office focuses on five priority sectors, three of which are directly civil engineering related:

· Renewable energy

· Water management

· Circular economy

As was also noticed in the meso study on climate mitigation, the office mentioned the Taiwanese government invests a lot in offshore energy. It’s important for the energy transition, as Taiwan relies on imported coal as of now. However, because of strict permit regulations and a preference for a local supply chain, it is becoming more difficult for Dutch marine contractors to successfully apply to tenders, issued by the Energy Administration Office. For example, Taiwanese materials and vessels should be used if possible.

In other aspects, there is also collaboration between Taiwan and the Netherlands. Topics such as outer space and 5G/6G communication are big in science. Moreover, collective events are organised. The high level of science in Taiwan is complementary to Dutch science. Besides that, a large part of the export of Taiwan to Europe is to the Netherlands. The Netherlands Office is trying to promote Taiwanese companies settling in the Netherlands.

Some questions were asked about the differences in business culture. Some elements of lectures were confirmed. For example, the Taiwanese value hierarchy, and relationships are important. Besides that, the Taiwanese are a collective people, so the well-being of the group is quite important. However, they are quite open to other international cultures, as there is also ambiguity between traditional values and opportunistic capitalism in their own culture.

In conclusion, the visit to the Netherlands representation office in Taiwan provided insights into both the business and the social culture in Taiwan. Afterward, some specific cultural questions were asked in person, for example about receiving gifts, which showed interest from both the hosts and the students.