"China will maintain its position as the second-largest investor in the Netherlands in 2012 and in the years ahead," Li said.

There are growing opportunities for Chinese investors in the country, Li said, and many companies in the country that are facing difficult times would welcome Chinese investment.

A government survey in November showed that one-third of the country's companies were in difficult financial circumstances.

The economy shrank by 1.1 percent in the third quarter last year and the central bank warned of an even worse scenario in 2013.

As Chinese companies increasingly enter the Netherlands, "demand for financial support grows," said Zhao Caiyan, general manager of (Luxembourg) S.A. Rotterdam Branch of Bank of China.

Bank of China opened a branch in Rotterdam in 2007, the first Chinese financial service provider in the Netherlands.

"Our customers are in a wide range of sectors. We help them settle down and register businesses here, paving the way for expanding further into Europe," said Zhao.

Despite the growing presence, much more could be done, according to a leading consultancy firm.

Amsterdam-based consultancy Boer & Croon said that only 3 percent of Chinese merger and acquisition deals conducted in Europe over the past four years were in the Netherlands.

But the consulting firm predicted a growing number of Chinese companies would seek deals in the "high-tech sector" in the Netherlands.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the top three destinations in Europe for Chinese overseas direct investment are Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom.