The Dutch capital is home to more than a quarter of the country’s nearly 2,000 AI companies, while new technology clusters aim to strengthen its position
Amsterdam has emerged as the Netherlands’ leading centre for artificial intelligence, with 525 AI companies operating in the Dutch capital, according to an analysis based on data from RankmyAI, an initiative of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
The figures, reported by Dutch newspaper Financieele Dagblad, show that Amsterdam accounts for around 26 per cent of the nearly 2,000 AI companies operating across the Netherlands.
Rotterdam and Utrecht rank second and third respectively in terms of the number of AI companies.
Noord-Holland leads the country
Amsterdam’s dominance has helped make Noord-Holland the country’s leading province for AI companies, with around 35 per cent of the national total located there.
The province is home to several AI clusters bringing together dozens of companies, with another major hub set to open in Amsterdam.
The Stack, a new technology centre scheduled to open in September, has already attracted 30 companies, according to Esther Bisschop, who will manage the facility.
Bisschop said the centre aims to increase that number to more than 200 companies by 2029.
AI companies spread across the Netherlands
Despite the concentration in major cities, AI businesses are increasingly being established across the country.
Start-ups can be found in locations ranging from Abcoude to Zaltbommel, while even smaller municipalities such as Kampen are home to several AI companies.
Jesse Weltevreden, professor of Digital Commerce at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, said the Dutch AI sector was particularly concentrated in Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland.
When the number of AI companies is measured as a share of the total number of businesses in each province, however, Groningen, Noord-Holland and Utrecht stand out, he said.
Breda seeks to build AI and robotics hub
Breda in the province of Noord-Brabant is also emerging as an AI centre.
RankmyAI lists 39 AI companies in the city, placing Breda 12th nationwide.
Technology company CM.com, as well as Handpicked, Boldly and Aizy, are among the companies operating there.
Breda deputy mayor Carla Kranenborg said many of the city’s AI companies were focused on specific applications, particularly healthcare and robotics.
She said this supported Breda’s ambition to establish itself as one of Europe’s leading centres for robotics and AI.
The city is also seeking to attract more AI talent by investing in quality of life, including affordable housing, laboratory space and shared workspaces where entrepreneurs can collaborate, Kranenborg said.
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