Leading the way: The Netherlands and Amsterdam’s international successes in 2024

Netherlands tops the global English Proficiency Index for the sixth year in a row

The Netherlands maintains its position at No.1 in the EF English Proficiency Index 2024, achieving this top rank for the sixth time since 2011. Drawing on data from more than 2 million test-takers, the Netherlands tops the global ranking of 113 countries.

The Netherlands has ranked 8th in the Global Innovation Index 2024

Sitting among top global innovators, the Netherlands claims 8th place, maintaining a position in the top 10 worldwide in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII). The GII assesses the innovation performance of 133 economies and tracks the latest global innovation trends. It also highlights the Netherlands' influence in the evolving innovation landscape.

The Netherlands among Europe's top 5 innovators

The recently released European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) evaluates and compares the annual Research and Innovation performance of EU Member States and other countries. This year, the Netherlands ranks in the top 5, with the report highlighting the country's strengths in its education system, high-quality research institutions, and the digital proficiency of its residents.

Netherlands ranks #1 in the new Global Index on Responsible AI

The newly launched Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI) has ranked the Netherlands at the number #1 position, highlighting its leadership in responsible AI use. The report reflects the thriving AI community in NL and emphasises international cooperation is crucial for deploying and using AI responsibly.

Amsterdam tops the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index

Arcadis recently announced the 100 most sustainable cities in the world, and Amsterdam claims the top spot on the list, followed closely by Rotterdam, another Dutch city, showing genuine commitment to sustainability in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands comes out on top in EU well-being

The Netherlands has secured the second-highest well-being standard in the EU. Evaluated in a new report by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) across 23 indicators, the Netherlands excelled in 14 areas, including social cohesion and work-life balance. Discover what factors contribute to the Netherlands' top ranking below.

Netherlands claims the 13th spot among the world’s best-performing startup ecosystems

The results are in, and according to the Startup Genome report – the Netherlands finds itself in 13th place among the top global-performing startup ecosystems. Climbing from 14th place last year. Now in its 12th year, The Global Startup Ecosystem Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global startup landscape. With a focus on emerging trends and the key challenges today's entrepreneurs face, the research delves into data from over 4.5 million startups.

The Netherlands ranks #6 in the 2024 World Happiness Report

To mark the International Day of Happiness, the UN, together with GALLUP and others, annually reveals the happiest countries in the world. The Netherlands secured the 6th spot, keeping its place in the top 10 due to individual autonomy, social support and healthy living. The theme for 2024 was the happiness of people at different stages of life.

Amsterdam ranks #2 in fDi’s European Cities and Regions of the Future 2024

In the 2024 unveiling of fDi Intelligence's European Cities and Regions of the Future ranking, cities from central and eastern Europe took the spotlight, with Amsterdam ranking #2, continuing its prominence in the major cities category. The assessment considered 330 European cities categorised by population size and 141 European regions, evaluating them based on economic potential, business friendliness, connectivity, human capital and lifestyle, and cost-effectiveness.

The Netherlands ranks #2 for quality of life in 2024

In the 2024 report by Numbeo, the Netherlands secures the 2nd spot for quality of life, considering factors such as cost of living, crime rates, healthcare, commute times, and environmental pollution. Luxemburg claims the top spot, with the Netherlands coming in 2nd and Iceland rounding out the top 3. Numbeo, recognised as the world's largest crowd-sourced quality-of-life database, gathers data and a spectrum of statistics from countries and cities across the globe.

Amsterdam ranks #2 in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index

In 2024, Amsterdam landed in the top 5 for the first time since 2021, highlighting its substantial efforts to create a moveable and accessible city that aligns with its 2030 climate neutrality goals. The fifth edition of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index is an extensive study that aims to determine which cities are most prepared for the future of urban mobility. Amsterdam has landed 2nd place in the research by the Oliver Wyman Forum and the University of California, Berkeley, which includes 65 major cities worldwide. It also researches categories such as top public transit systems, economic pressures and mobility, clean energy fuel, and sustainability.

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