INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE NETHERLANDS
A history of innovation, a future of growth Innovation has long been one of the cornerstones of culture in the Netherlands. Dutch explorers, tradespeople and artists played pioneering roles in the shaping of western civilisation. Today you will find many tech giants setting up base in the major Dutch cities, making the most of the various tax advantages and funding offered by the government to encourage further development and creativity. TEXT: STEPHANIE LOVELL | PHOTOS: NBTC HOLLAND MARKETING
Thanks in no small part to its long history of innovation and business savvy, the Netherlands has become one of the world’s most advanced economies. Ranked among the top countries for entrepreneurship, it is fast becoming the go-to place for the young and bright, hoping to establish their own hightech start-up and develop the next lifechanging product. Although relatively small in both size and population, the Netherlands boasts an extensive list of innovations and discoveries in a wide variety of areas. The Dutch were behind the development of modern cartography, becoming renowned map makers and discovering many of the world’s most remote corners. With their innovative painting styles, Rembrandt
and Van Gogh are widely considered to be among the greatest and most influential artists of all time. Back in the 17th century, Dutch merchants paved the way for business as we know it today, founding the world’s first multinational corporation, the Dutch East India Company. Nowadays, many entrepreneurs are drawn to the growing start-up scene in the Netherlands, hoping to emulate the success of the likes of Booking.com and TomTom – two Dutch companies that were founded in the 1990s and are still booming today. By basing their business here, they can enjoy a whole range of tax benefits, credits and grants provided by the Dutch government to foster innovation. Such favourable conditions have at-
tracted global brands Netflix and Uber, who recently established their European headquarters in Amsterdam. Whether a budding start-up or a wellrespected multinational, all companies can benefit from the wealth of homegrown talent, nurtured by the excellent Dutch education system. In a bid to place the country among the top five knowledge economies globally, policy makers are now focusing their efforts on building closer cooperation between businesses and educational institutes, as well as enhancing research and development. Given its first-rate universities and highly skilled workforce, the Netherlands could well surpass this ambitious goal.
Issue 29 | May 2016 | 15