The Netherlands' hidden gem: the digital mainport as an AI engine

The contours of a specialist

Figures from the first half of 2025 paint a striking picture. Of all startup investments in Amsterdam, 16.7% were directed at AI, a higher share than in the much larger ecosystems of London (11.9%) and Paris (12.8%) [1]. This relative success admittedly obscures the fact that absolute investment volumes in those cities are many times higher, but it signals something more important: a deep, specialist focus. While others cast a wide net, Amsterdam is building concentrated expertise.

Sources: Sifted [1], Bristows [7]

This is not a sign of weakness, but the blueprint of a smart player. It reveals an ecosystem that is not trying to be the largest, but rather the best in a specific, capital-efficient niche: complex B2B and deep tech AI.

The foundation: the digital gold mine

The explanation for this specialisation lies in the Netherlands' unique infrastructure. With AMS-IX, Amsterdam is home to the world's second-largest internet exchange, a digital gold mine that delivers faster growth and greater economic impact than Schiphol and the Port of Rotterdam combined [8]. For AI companies, where data transfer speed is critical, this provides an almost unfair advantage.

Until now, this foundation has largely served as a passive enabler. The next step in the ecosystem's maturation is to actively cultivate this strength. The growing consensus is that digital infrastructure deserves the same strategic focus as the physical mainports, with policy and investment aligned to maximise the opportunities it offers.

Opportunities for investors and startups

For discerning investors and ambitious startups, this 'hidden gem' represents a market full of opportunity. The relative undervaluation, combined with technical superiority, creates a distinctive momentum.

For investors:

1. Valuation arbitrage: The ability to invest in technically advanced AI companies at valuations considerably lower than in overheated markets such as London or Silicon Valley.

2. Infrastructure as a moat: Investing in startups whose business models directly benefit from the low latency and high connectivity of AMS-IX. This provides a durable competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate.

3. Proven B2B market: The Dutch ecosystem has a strong track record of building scalable, profitable enterprise software. This reduces risk compared with consumer-facing AI applications.

For startups:

1. Technical advantage: Direct access to one of the world's fastest and most reliable digital networks, which is essential for training models and delivering real-time AI services.

2. Specialised talent: A deep pool of engineering talent with experience in building complex B2B products, nurtured by top universities and major tech companies.

3. The ideal test market: The combination of a technically literate population and a compact, manageable market makes the Netherlands the ideal launchpad for a European rollout.

Realising the new mainport

The path forward is clear. By formally recognising digital infrastructure as the Netherlands' third mainport, a national policy framework can be developed that aligns energy, spatial planning and investment. This creates the stability and growth conditions needed to break through the current data centre stagnation [5].

By coupling this strategic recognition with an innovation fund that invests in companies leveraging the unique strengths of the digital mainport, the Netherlands can convert its relative lead into an absolute one. The time is right to polish the hidden gem and to view Amsterdam not merely as a surprising AI hub, but as the logical engine of the next generation of European technology.