News item | 06-02-2025 | 09:00
The government wants to keep the Netherlands attractive for foreign investments. With the new phase of the Invest in Holland strategy, the Netherlands wants to remain the leader in innovation and resilience in the coming years. The cabinet therefore continues to focus on quality instead of quantity in attracting foreign companies. That means that new investment projects not only stimulate our economic growth, but should also help our country to be ready for the future. Minister Beljaarts (EZ) also writes this on behalf of Minister Klever (BHO) to the Lower House.
The Invest in Holland network, led by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), plays a crucial role in attracting high-quality foreign investments (acquisition). The focus will remain on investments that reinforce Dutch ecosystems in the coming years. In ecosystems, companies work together with knowledge institutions and governments. The Invest in Holland-Netwerk also explores opportunities in sectors such as defense, raw materials and financial technology in the coming years.
Of the projects of foreign companies that supervised the network to and in the Netherlands in 2024, 97% (187 of the 193 projects) connected to the strategic priorities of the Netherlands. These investment projects, for example, contribute to innovations in areas such as health care, agriculture and chemistry or support the government objective to spend 3% of GDP on research and development (R&D) by 2030.
“Foreign companies make an important contribution to the strengthening of our innovative ecosystems and our future -proofing,” said Economic Affairs Minister Beljaarts. “With this strategy, we ensure that we guide those companies to the Netherlands and here that contribute to our economic strength and innovation.”
Minister Klever: “Foreign companies ensure more than a million jobs in the Netherlands and account for nearly 150 billion euros in added value for our economy. As a cabinet, we are committed to a good business climate. The NFIA works together with our embassies and consulates worldwide to bring the most innovative companies to the Netherlands. This provides the Netherlands knowledge and innovation, which the entire society benefits from. “
Improvement of the business climate
With strong and innovative ecosystems, highly educated talent, excellent digital infrastructure and high quality of life, the Netherlands is attractive for international companies. This is also apparent from the increase in follow -up investments from existing foreign investors in the Netherlands. They increased from 19% in 2023 to 28% in 2024 (of the total number of guided projects). At the same time, entrepreneurs are confronted with considerable challenges every day. Shortages of labor, limited (environmental) space and a busy electricity network are examples of bottlenecks. In addition, many entrepreneurs experience a high regulatory pressure and a government that is sometimes seen as unpredictable.
That is why the government is working on the Pact Enterprise Climate under the leadership of Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs. This pact, which is designed in collaboration with the business community, must remove bottlenecks and re -position the Netherlands as one of the most competing economies in the world.
Invest in Holland network
The Invest in Holland Network is a nationally covering partnership of the government, regions, large cities and the Netherlands distribution country (NDL), which focuses on attracting and retaining foreign investments for the Netherlands. The NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) is the representative of the National Government. NFIA is an implementing organization that is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The NFIA falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Economic Affairs and is co -managed by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid.