The Netherlands one of the most prosperous countries in the EU

In 2009 the Netherlands had the second highest level of prosperity in the EU. The Dutch gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was well over 31 percent above the EU average. Only Luxembourg had a higher per capita GDP. This is due to the many people who work in Luxembourg but live elsewhere.

Whereas Ireland was more prosperous than the Netherlands in 2007, it dropped to third place in 2009 due to the economic downturn.
The only countries in Europe that are more prosperous are Norway and Switzerland, which do not belong to the EU.

Volume index of per capita GDP, 2009

Dirk-Jan Hoogerdijk en Helewise Hentzen

Source: Eurostat