The Netherlands is home Europe’s most competitive business ecosystems

Dutch regions come out on top

Five of the 10 most competitive areas in Europe are in the Netherlands, according to the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) published by the European Commission. Launched in 2010, the RCI helps EU regions monitor their economic development over time by assessing nearly 70 different factors including economic stability, innovation, infrastructure, labour market, education and health.

Published every 3 years, the index looks at competitiveness in the context of a region’s ability to offer an attractive and sustainable environment for businesses and residents to live and work. The Utrecht region was named #1 most competitive European region, followed by South Holland (#2), North Brabant (#3), and the Amsterdam region (#5). Gelderland rounds out the top 10, coming in at #7.

See the full interactive map on Innovation Origins.

Assessing regions’ economic development over time

This 2022 edition of the RCI includes data collected between 2019 and 2022 and ranks regions based on overall competitiveness broken down into 3 subcategories – basic, efficiency, and innovation. It’s important to note that all indicators are based on information collected prior to the war in Ukraine and use partially pre-pandemic data.

The index finds the attractive Dutch business climate can be attributed to the presence of leading academic and research institutions, a strong position for innovation, and healthy labour market participation from women and young people. Excellent connections between the regions also help facilitate shared knowledge and resources, elevating overall performance for the country as a whole.

The Amsterdam Area is an attractive place for business

The Netherlands benefits from close connections between ecosystems and a strong ethos of collaboration. The Amsterdam Area helps facilitate regional success as a leading place for scientific impact and among the top European cities for foreign direct investment. The country as a whole is also known for an excellent work-life balance and world-leading quality of life.

Learn more about why the Amsterdam Area is a great home for international business.