people, this was motivated by our common value and interests, such as long-standing and deeply-rooted democratic tradition, the Atlantic outlook, the free market orientation and two large multi-nationals, Shell and Unilever, with a common Dutch-British origin. Economic partnership Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever are both joint British/Dutch businesses. The Netherlands-British Chamber of Commerce was established to further economic co-operation between the two countries. In 2006 the Netherlands imported £16.6bn worth of goods from the United Kingdom, making it the UK's fifth biggest export market. Dutch-British trade is made simpler by good relations, transparent legal framework, sophisticated financial services system, good transport links and close geographical proximity. It is possible to reach either country by train, Eurostar, ferry or aeroplane. Twinnings Alkmaar, North Holland and Bath, Somerset Almelo, Overijssel and Preston, Lancashire Almere, Flevoland and Milton Keynes (and associated town with the City of Lancaster) Amstelveen, North Holland and Woking, Surrey Amsterdam, North Holland and Manchester, Greater Manchester Arnhem, Gelderland and Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Arnhem, Gelderland and Croydon, Greater London Cuijk, North Brabant and Maldon, Essex Delft, South Holland and Kingston upon Thames, Greater London Dordrecht, South Holland and Hastings, East Sussex Gouda, South Holland and Gloucester, Gloucestershire Graft-De Rijp, North Holland and Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire Groningen, Groningen Province and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear Heemstede, North Holland and Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire Haaren, North Brabant and Desborough, Northamptonshire Hellevoetsluis, South Holland and Torbay, Devon Leiden, South Holland and Oxford, Oxfordshire Meerssen, Limburg and Sherborne, Dorset Rotterdam, South Holland and Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire Stampersgat, North Brabant and Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Zutphen, Gelderland and Shrewsbury, Shropshire Armed forces The Royal Marines and Netherlands Marine Corps are allied through a 'Bond of friendship'. Since 1973, units of the Netherlands Marine Corps have formed part of the British 3 Commando Brigade during exercises and real conflict situations. Together, these form the UK/NL Landing Force. Either the First or the Second Marine Combat Group can be assigned as the Dutch contribution to this force. The co-operation between the Korps Mariniers and the Royal Marines has led to extensive integration in the areas of operations, logistics and materials. Within NATO this is seen as a prime example of what can be achieved in military integration. In combined NLMC and Royal Marines actions by the British and Dutch navies during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713), amphibious operations were carried out, the most notable being