Business information

The Dutch on average speak 3.2 languages per capita according to the Eurobarometer surveys. Historically, the Netherlands has always been a country relying heavily on trade with foreign countries, which can explain the vast knowledge of foreign languages. This short anecdote clarifies the international oriented view in the Netherlands. Eindhoven and its surrounding region are becoming more and more attractive for domestic and foreign businesses. The region of Eindhoven, being a mainport and an extremely smart region, offers a wide and interesting variety of business opportunities.

The fifth most populated city in the Netherlands is Eindhoven. With Eindhoven being the most populated region outside of the 'Randstad' the economical attractively region offers a diverse variety of business opportunities. Next to economically attractive, the region Eindhoven is a former smartest region of the world. In 2011 Eindhoven was proclaimed to be the world smartest region according to the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). Eindhoven's former mayor Van Gijzel proudly claimed that being called the smartest region in the world offers lots of opportunities from a business perspective. This excellent reputation of being an intelligent region made Eindhoven an economic mainport which was logically renamed Brainport.

In 2016, the Eindhoven Brainport was recognised as an economic mainport of the Netherlands. This made the region Eindhoven have the same status as the Port of Rotterdam and Schiphol. Eindhoven Brainport is now recognised as an innovative and highly competitive force and this will result in growing subsidies and growing influence for the region. The mainport status makes it easier for companies to employ foreign highly educated labourers which in turn improves companies productivity.