About the Northern Netherlands

The Northern Netherlands: where doing business is innovative, profitable and reliable

The Northern Netherlands’ strategic location, the relative ease of doing business, the high level of proficiency in English and German and its excellent transportation and distribution infrastructure make it a superb gateway from Northeastern Europe to the Dutch market and markets within the European Union.

The Northern Netherlands market is knowledge-intensive and innovative. The majority of companies are SME’s, the economy is diversified and especially powerful in its peak-sectors:

Energy
The Northern Netherlands is a major European producer and distributor of natural gas and electricity. The available knowledge, facilities and companies are utilized to develop new, clean technologies in close interaction to create a highly advanced energy system. The Northern Netherlands is the region where knowledge about sustainable energy is at your service!

Water technology
The Northern Netherlands is a leading region on sustainable water treatment technology. With the Wetsus Centre of Excellence for Sustainable water Technology at the absolute top, this peak sector offers you a unique and inspiring environment for your developments and solutions of local and global water problems.

Sensor technology
Sensor technology, also known as the next technology that will dramatically change business and society, is rapidly becoming a leading international economic and scientific cluster in the Northern Netherlands. The sensor cluster is based on an educational program and ambitious projects like LOFAR: a radio telescope with a diameter of 3000 km2. Perhaps even more important for entrepreneurs are the opportunities sensor technology creates in solving a vast range of issues where the monitoring of large amounts of data with great precision are concerned.

Life Science
Healthy ageing (how to grow old in healthy conditions) is a major societal challenge for all Europeans. Various governmental and non-governmental organisations in the Northern Netherlands have joined forces and now offer Europe's most integrated approach to healthy ageing. A forceful cooperation between government, medical centres, companies, knowledge institutes and international partners created a rapidly growing sector with great opportunities and economic incentives aimed at improving the quality of life for all.

Other important sectors:

• Agribusiness
• Chemistry
• Commercial care
• Tourism
• IT
• Shipbuilding

Downloads

• factsheet agri
• factsheet energy
• factsheet health
• factsheet sensor technology
• factsheet water