When global company ClickHouse opened its European office in Amsterdam in 2021, the decision was more than just a business move. It served as a testament to the fact that technological innovation flourishes where diverse talent, collaboration and quality of life intersect.
Founded in 2021 and headquartered in the U.S., ClickHouse builds an analytical database that is a global leader in fast, open-source, column-oriented data processing. It enables users to generate real-time analytical reports using SQL queries, claiming to be the fastest in the world. What sets ClickHouse apart is its capacity to handle massive data volumes with speed, efficiency and flexibility. In a world where businesses and individuals expect immediate answers, ClickHouse provides lightning-fast performance at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. This open-source offering is complemented by ClickHouse Cloud, a managed service offered by the company.
But it’s not only about speed. The database’s open-source nature and accessibility make it easy for companies to adopt and expand within existing IT infrastructure. “You see a lot of databases with their own ‘dialects.’ We are SQL compliant, making it simple for anyone to interact with their data,” says Arno van Driel, VP EMEA of ClickHouse. “It’s relatively easy to get up to speed with ClickHouse and start building applications on top of our system.”
This blend of high performance, scalability and open-source accessibility has established ClickHouse as one of the fastest-growing companies in the IT and tech industry, further bolstering the Dutch tech ecosystem.
A strategic hub for European growth
In 2021, ClickHouse established its global headquarters in San Francisco and simultaneously saw a need to open a European office. After considering several European cities, Amsterdam ultimately won out due to its digital infrastructure, multicultural talent and the country’s support for international businesses.
“There’s a lot of innovation happening in Amsterdam and in the Netherlands,” notes van Driel. “Connecting the dots and making sure that we are collaborating amongst each other and trying to work towards a global presence, I think, is one of the strongest efforts that we do together as [tech] companies in the Netherlands.”
ClickHouse’s decision to base its core operations in Amsterdam adds significant value to the Dutch tech ecosystem, reinforcing its role as a key hub for Europe’s digital economy. The Netherlands has long been home to homegrown tech champions and global innovators, and ClickHouse continues that tradition by contributing cutting-edge expertise in extensive data analytics.
The Netherlands’ entrepreneurial culture and strong tech community demonstrate that ClickHouse made the right move. In October 2025, ClickHouse moved to a new office on the Vijzelstraat in Amsterdam – triple the original size and capable of hosting its biggest database and EMEA leadership teams. The expansion anchors the company’s engineering, product development and administrative nucleus deeper in the Netherlands’ business landscape.
The first visitors in the new office: Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau and Jarno van der Linden from Techleap.
The Netherlands’ talent pool and quality of life fuel ClickHouse’s success
ClickHouse has employees working in roughly 20 different countries, with its largest presence of more than 60 people based in the Netherlands – where it now has more room to grow. One of the main reasons for ClickHouse to continue to invest in the country is its highly skilled, multilingual talent pool and the ease with which international talent can relocate to the Netherlands. Moreover, Amsterdam is an ideal central location for ClickHouse’s global teams to travel for meetings.
While not all new hires relocate, those who choose to move to the Netherlands receive comprehensive support from the company. From housing assistance and healthcare to setting up a bank account and finding the right childcare, ClickHouse goes above and beyond to make the transition smooth.
“We want to make sure that [international employees] feel welcome and get connected,” says van Driel. “On a regular basis, we have company events, where they can discover the city, or we have some dinners. There are a lot of opportunities to make sure that they feel at home.”
These in-house initiatives dovetail with the Netherlands’ nationwide programs and expat centers, making it easy for employees to integrate into society. It helps that English is widely spoken in Dutch society, which ranks No. 1 in the world in the EF English Proficiency index. The country’s quality of life surpasses that of its European neighbors, and according to the United Nations Happiness Report, the Netherlands is the world’s fifth happiest nation and also ranks among the happiest countries in Europe by Eurostat.
ClickHouse’s approach to attracting talent has resonated with employees and serves as a positive example of how international businesses can thrive in the Netherlands. “Everybody feels at home in Amsterdam,” van Driel observes.
Shared values with the Netherlands drive opportunities
Behind the scenes, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and Invest in Holland network are key players in supporting ClickHouse’s entry and expansion. The company has found a natural partner with NFIA as an example of the Netherlands’ culture of collaboration. As an open-source company, working in an environment that encourages open dialogue and knowledge-sharing is part of ClickHouse’s DNA and essential for future growth.
“It was a natural match to work with the NFIA because we share the same values in terms of collaboration, connecting the dots, making the introductions, trying to see how to make things possible and if it’s not possible, trying to find a workaround,” van Driel concludes.
From ClickHouse’s early days in Amsterdam, NFIA has provided guidance and connections, helping the company find opportunities and connect with partners and other tech companies. It’s a perfect synergy: the Netherlands meets the company’s evolving needs, and in turn, ClickHouse accelerates solutions aligned with the Dutch approach to IT and tech.
Keeping innovation and people at the core
As ClickHouse settles into its new Amsterdam office, the company’s goals are clear: to keep advancing data analytics while investing in people and the community. By blending innovative technology with a culture that embraces and supports international talent, ClickHouse is not only strengthening its future but also enhancing the Netherlands’ reputation as a center of innovation and opportunity.
