Innovate Water Technology in the Netherlands for Future-Proof Water Management and Resilience
With rising water scarcity and climate change affecting industries worldwide, innovative water technologies are more vital than ever. Enter the Netherlands. Renowned as a global leader in water management, the country offers a premier ecosystem for companies to develop solutions in water purification, wastewater treatment, smart infrastructure and more.
- The Dutch are longtime and respected leaders in integrated water management technologies that improve water supplies, sanitation and climate resilience.
- The Netherlands is a hub of innovation, pushing the boundaries of water technology with digital twins, AI and decentralized residential solutions.
- WaterCampus Leeuwarden, with its European Center of Excellence (Wetsus), is the leading hub for water technology in Europe.
- With government funding such as the Water Technology Growth Plan, the Dutch water tech industry is prime for further expansion.
The Netherlands has a strong history of reclaiming land from water, resulting in worldwide export of its knowledge in water management and land design. Moreover, sustainability is a key driver for the country’s economic growth. Combining these strengths, the large and dynamic Dutch water tech community is at the forefront of pioneering the cutting-edge technologies for ever-better water solutions.
The Dutch water technology sector: Respected as a worldwide partner
Water security – for people, industry and agrifood production – is one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century. To address these needs, the Dutch water sector has developed expertise that covers the entire water cycle. Today, Dutch innovation is advancing solutions for drinking water, industrial water, wastewater and purification industries. That water tech innovation also meshes with other sectors, especially smart tech and materials companies with operations in the Netherlands.
This thriving water sector draws support from the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), a highly respected alliance that promotes international collaboration and innovation in water management. A large share of work in the field centers around WaterCampus Leeuwarden, Europe’s leading water tech campus.
WaterCampus is home to well-known names such as Wetsus, a research and innovation center for sustainable water technology, and Water Alliance, a unique partnership of companies, government agencies and knowledge institutions. In turn, leading global companies choose to establish innovation hubs to be near the heart of the Netherlands’ water tech network. That includes Desalytics, which set up R&D operations in Leeuwarden to develop sustainable water solutions for high-impact regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa.
WaterCampus Leeuwarden
Public-private collaboration spurs innovative advancements
With its robust public-private ecosystem and deep talent pool, the Netherlands offers an ideal environment where companies can scale breakthrough water technologies. For many innovators, that means tapping into powerful partnership opportunities within the Dutch triple helix model of industry, academia and government collaboration.
KWR Water Research Institute is one example. Located in Nieuwegein near Utrecht, KWR is a leading applied research center that bridges science, policy and practice to develop sustainable solutions across the water cycle. Internationally respected for its expertise in drinking water quality, urban water systems and climate-resilient technologies, KWR plays a pivotal role in promoting public-private collaboration for water management on the world stage.
Similarly, Water Alliance brings together a complete chain of innovation, from initial ideation to research & development. Harnessing the potential of its specialized laboratories, water application center and various demo sites, Water Alliance partners with international companies to launch new applications.
Data-driven solutions and climate adaptation
Over the years, the Netherlands has cultivated deep knowledge in designing artificial land and protecting land that is under sea-level in delta areas. Dutch engineering firms have leveraged this expertise to contribute to famous projects like Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge in China and the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Anchored by research institutions like KWR and national agencies like the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) and the Royal Meteorological institute (KNMI), the Netherlands fosters leading-edge research on water systems, climate resilience, sustainable urban environments and water microbiology.
The Netherlands is also home to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). With its headquarters in Rotterdam and research hub in Groningen, the GCA connects a worldwide network of regional offices and partners across Africa, Asia and the Americas. The organization contributes high-level policy insights, research, communications and technical assistance to governments and private sector actors, in the pursuit of urban climate adaptation and climate-resilient water services for people, agriculture, nature and economies.
Other strategic initiatives like Earth Valley in the Amersfoort-Utrecht axis and the SCOREwater smart city project in Amersfoort showcase how the Netherlands integrates geodata, engineering and digital technologies to address global water challenges. The industry clusters in this region further highlight the Netherlands’ deep-rooted excellence in smart water management and engineering resilient environments.
Co-create future-proof solutions with the Dutch water sector
For those who work with and on water, the Netherlands is the world’s premier hub to shape the solutions of the future. The Dutch ecosystem welcomes international companies that are driven to accelerate new innovations in water technology.