Which countries are best known for their expertise with water? For many, the Netherlands naturally comes to mind as a top contender. The Dutch have become famous for their success in building dikes and reclaiming land, being situated in a low-lying delta that has impacted their history, society and democracy over generations.

Today, those centuries of experience in dealing with water are yielding new insights. The Netherlands is pioneering cutting-edge water technology solutions that address global challenges, especially water security for people, industries and agriculture. With a rich history of water expertise and a forward-thinking approach, the Dutch water tech sector is charting innovation that covers the entire water cycle.

Continue reading to discover why the Netherlands is a global leader in water technology, and how the country welcomes international innovators to collaborate in the dynamic Dutch water tech ecosystem.

WaterCampus Leeuwarden in the Netherlands

Water technology in the Netherlands: Driven by a dynamic community

The Dutch water tech sector is distinguished by a strong community of innovation that supports the complete water cycle: from source to use, and from pre-use treatment to reuse. This community is focused on contributing to global goals of reducing water footprints, optimizing water reuse and recovering raw materials from wastewater.

Across the Netherlands, startups, industry leaders, government, knowledge institutes and innovation centers form a collaborative network to drive water tech advancements forward. WaterCampus Leeuwarden is a pillar of this Dutch community, renowned across the globe as a trailblazing water tech hub. There are also groups like TNO, the national research organization, and European Center of Excellence (Wetsus), an innovation community and managing partner of WaterCampus, which generate, test and evolve innovative ideas and science-based approaches to water technology.

Networks like the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and Water Alliance support this connected ecosystem by promoting international, public-private collaboration and innovation in water technology. Additionally, the Netherlands is investing hundreds of millions of Euros into its Water Technology Growth Plan. Drawing support from a consortium of 600 parties, this unique plan is pivotal in unlocking innovation for drinking water, industrial water, wastewater and purification industries, ensuring continuous improvement and opportunities across the ecosystem.

Advantages of operating in the Dutch water tech sector

The Netherlands offers numerous advantages for foreign companies looking to drive the future of water tech innovation, as noted by TopDutch. The city of Leeuwarden, with its world-renowned WaterCampus, is globally recognized as the water tech capital of Europe. This ecosystem offers a breeding ground for companies to innovate in water tech across a range of diverse applications.

There’s also a plethora of partnership opportunities in the Dutch water tech community. Companies can become technology partners for turn-key water solutions by connecting with the networks of Wetsus, WaterAlliance or the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW).

Wetsus allows businesses to work with researchers from numerous universities across diverse scientific research programs. Through WaterAlliance, companies in the Netherlands can connect with tens of thousands European SMEs for collaboration and matchmaking, as well as water tech hubs worldwide. And as a leading innovation center in the industry, CEW brings together companies with researchers and facilities to partner on applied research and product development.

Credit: CEW

In addition, the Netherlands’ strategic location provides unparalleled access to European and global markets, facilitating the export and exchange of water technologies. For many water tech companies, the Netherlands is a gateway to the EU market in particular. This ideal location also attracts talent from around the world, including water tech experts. Meanwhile, WaterCampus Leeuwarden offers a lifelong learning program – from primary education to PhD – to foster a highly skilled workforce in the Netherlands that can enable international companies to realize their growth ambitions.

Put all these factors together, and it’s easy to see why the Dutch water tech sector is the ideal place for companies to rigorously test and refine innovative water solutions, ensuring they are effective and scalable. The links between Dutch water tech knowledge, invention and implementation are stronger than ever.

A steady stream of cutting-edge technologies

Dutch expertise in water technology spans various fields, including drinking water, industrial water, wastewater and purification industries. Mirroring the natural water cycle itself, the Netherlands’ ecosystem supports a comprehensive chain of innovation – from market demand, ideation and science, to applied research and business growth. WaterCampus exemplifies this chain of innovation, which is unmatched by any other country worldwide.

It’s no surprise, then, that a foreign water tech company like Aquacycl choose the Netherlands for its European headquarters. Landing at WaterCampus Leeuwarden in 2023, the U.S.-based company is leveraging the Dutch ecosystem to introduce its pioneering wastewater treatment technologies to Europe.

Foreign investment in the Netherlands meets a wave of domestic activity, exemplified by Dutch startups like Watter B.V, NX Filtration, LG Sonic, and North Water that are developing cutting-edge, sustainable solutions for clean drinking water, water reuse, agricultural water supply and industrial water treatment that can be applied globally. Dutch company Ferr-Tech, a leader in industrial wastewater treatment, was named the most innovative company in the Netherlands in 2023.

Institutes play a critical role in advancing cutting-edge water tech developments in the Netherlands. Located at WaterCampus Leeuwarden, CIV Water provides unique development trajectories for companies to upskill their employees in areas like drinking water technology, water analysis or water quantity management. Also in WaterCampus, the Water Application Center (WAC) offers facilities for companies to develop solutions for enhancing drinking water supply, purifying process water for use in the textile industry or reusing wastewater from energy production.

A view inside Water Application Center, at WaterCampus Leeuwarden. Credit: WAC

As part of Top Sector Water and Maritime, the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI) Water Technology fosters public-private partnerships to push new solutions in areas like sustainable freshwater supply, future-proofing water infrastructure, creating circular water systems for agriculture and coupling opportunities for water and energy.

Along with contributing to a host of European projects for water security and sustainability, Wetsus and WaterCampus support startups in bringing their technology to market and accelerating their business by providing access to talent, capital, knowledge, facilities and more. Similarly, CEW’s state-of-the-art research facilities and network of university-trained talent support businesses with applied science, problem-solving and ready-to-market product development. As one example, global agrifood producer Lamb Weston leveraged CEW’s expertise to remove sunflower oil from its wastewater.

Solve global water challenges together with the Netherlands

The Netherlands stands at the pinnacle of innovation in water technology, driving solutions to some of the world’s most pressing water challenges. This leadership is rooted in an ethos of collaboration, continuous improvement of technology and a strong commitment to sustainability.

Amid growing challenges of water scarcity globally, the Netherlands’ expertise and ecosystem offer a blueprint for addressing these issues effectively. There’s no better place for international companies to contribute to the mission of achieving water security and sustainability for all.

Want to join the dynamic Dutch water tech ecosystem? The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) helps and advises foreign companies interested in expanding to the Netherlands. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer as a business location.