Thomas Alsop
Research expert covering the global hardware industry
Semiconductors in the Netherlands - statistics & facts
The Netherlands is regarded as being one of only a few countries in the world, together with the likes of the United States and Japan, to have a complete semiconductor industry value chain within its borders. This includes applied research, chip design, chip architecture, chip production, and the equipment required to make them. With the introduction of the European Chips Act, the Dutch government is looking to capitalize on the 43 billion euros of public and private investment to support the development of the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.
ASML produces the world’s most advanced chip manufacturing machines
The Netherlands is home to several companies that provide equipment to the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The country’s shining light is ASML, the leading manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment, advanced systems capable of developing the most powerful chips. Boasting TSMC, Intel, and Samsung as its key partners, ASML saw revenue rise to 27.6 billion euros in 2023, a 30 percent increase from the previous year. In addition to ASML, other notable Dutch semiconductor equipment firms include ASM International and BE Semiconductor Industries (Besi). In 2023, Almere-headquartered ASM International generated revenue of 2.6 billion euros, while Duiven-headquartered Besi saw revenue amount to just under 600 million euros.Notable chip design and architecture companies are based in the Netherlands
With regard to chip design and architecture, the Netherlands is home to several innovative businesses, including the multinational semiconductor manufacturer NXP Semiconductors. Headquartered in Eindhoven, the NXP generated revenue of over 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. In terms of its key segments, the company generated roughly 7.5 billion U.S. dollars in the automotive market. NXP is also strong within the communication infrastructure and mobile markets, being the co-inventor of near-field communication (NFC) technology together with Sony.Retain and then attract the top priorities
The March 2024 announcement of 2.5 billion euros worth of investment by the Dutch government was viewed as a clear sign of the country’s desire to support giants like ASML in continuing to invest and base their operations in the Netherlands. Targeting the business community of Brainport Eindhoven, home to ASML, the plan dubbed ‘Project Beethoven’ aims to attract further investment and skilled workers to the area. The hope is that this enables the Netherlands to capitalize on its unique position within both the European and global semiconductor ecosystem for years to come.
