Eli Lilly Announces $3 Billion Facility in the Netherlands to Produce Innovative Medicines for Patients Worldwide
With its strategic investment, one of the world’s leading pharma companies builds on the Netherlands’ strong ecosystem for life sciences & health innovation and sustainable manufacturing
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company has announced plans to build a new $3 billion (2.6 billion Euro) high-tech manufacturing facility in Katwijk, the Netherlands, connected to Leiden Bio Science Park. In alignment with Dutch national priorities, the project will expand Lilly’s capacity to produce innovative medicines in Europe for patients worldwide, thereby strengthening the company’s global supply chain. To realize its goals, Lilly will create 500 jobs once the site is fully operational, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians. An additional 1,500 jobs will be created during construction. The investment marks a major step forward for innovative medicines in the Dutch life sciences & health ecosystem.
“With extensive investments already underway in the U.S., our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localized manufacturing ensures we can quickly respond to meet regional demand and accelerate distribution within Europe,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “Leiden Bio Science Park offers access to a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure and proven pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to working closely with the EU, national and local governments to create a more favorable and predictable policy environment open to fully harnessing innovative medicines to deliver faster access to patients.”
“I am truly proud that Eli Lilly has chosen the Netherlands, Katwijk and the Leiden Bio Science Park after considering many locations across Europe,” said Vincent Karremans, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. “The arrival of Eli Lilly will not only bring new jobs and investments, but also boost collaboration in the field of innovative medicines, helping us work together on solutions that truly improve people’s health and lives.”
Construction on the facility is estimated to begin in 2026 pending regulatory approvals, with plans to start producing medicine in 2030.
Why Lilly chose the Netherlands
Lilly’s Dutch facility will incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies to meet the needs of its growing medicines portfolio in cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology and immunology. Innovative capabilities will include dock-to-dock automation and material flow, paperless manufacturing, process analytical technology and spray-dried dispersion, which allows medicines to be effectively absorbed.
The project comes as Lilly expands its manufacturing operations across Europe, including new greenfield sites in Ireland, Germany and now, the Netherlands. A convergence of factors attracted Lilly to invest in the Dutch ecosystem: a talented workforce, world-class infrastructure, advanced manufacturing capabilities and an innovative, entrepreneurial climate. With these attributes and more, the Netherlands is known as Europe’s connected life sciences & health metropolis – offering opportunities for companies like Lilly to build on its strong, innovative ecosystem.
Along with talent and infrastructure, Katwijk and the Leiden Bio Science Park offer access to leading universities and deep pharmaceutical expertise as the country’s largest life sciences cluster. All this positions Lilly to create operational synergies in Europe, enhance supply chain flexibility, support the early-stage life sciences & health ecosystem and strengthen ‘quadruple helix’ relationships between industry, universities, patients and government.
Building a stronger ecosystem and supply chain
Lilly’s focus on next-generation production aligns with Dutch industrial priorities, bolstering the country’s status as Europe’s connected life sciences & health metropolis. In particular, the company will support the Netherlands’ strategic position and supply chain resilience in the fast-growing market for innovative medicines. And with diverse on-site activities planned, including production, administration, logistics and quality control, Lilly will generate further economic impact as it works with a large network of suppliers and partners.
The project also contributes to the Netherlands’ goals in research & development. Lilly’s planned quality control lab in Katwijk falls within the framework of R&D activity, while its approach to high-tech production focuses on process innovation.
Then there is the factor of high-wage job growth spurred by Lilly in the province of South Holland. The company will recruit hundreds of skilled engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians who will leverage state-of-the-art technology to create life-changing medicines. In turn, projects of this scale make the Netherlands more attractive for talent and stimulate educational programs that meet the needs of industry.
Contributing to a healthier society
The benefits of Lilly’s investment will flow out into Dutch society at large. As it produces a new generation of innovative medicines, the company will help address societal health challenges.
“At Lilly, we are investing in next-generation manufacturing facilities around the world to ensure our medicines are made and distributed closer to the communities and patients we serve. Expanding our capabilities in Europe strengthens our global supply chain and reflects our commitment to getting innovative treatments to patients who need them,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly’s Manufacturing Operations.
Lilly is also aligned with the Netherlands’ commitment to sustainability and responsible use of resources. “With each new facility we are building, we find ways to continue to minimize our environmental footprint – assuring carbon neutrality in our operations and generating zero waste to landfills,” added Hernandez.
Investing in “what is possible” with partnership and community
The announcement of the facility marks a joint achievement for national, regional and local stakeholders in the Netherlands. These include the Dutch national government – with NFIA as part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Invest in Holland partner InnovationQuarter, the province of South Holland, the municipality of Katwijk, Leiden Bio Science Park and developer RED Company.
Together with Lilly, all parties exhibited a shared entrepreneurial focus to bring “what is possible” into reality. From initial construction to future operations, Lilly will make a profound impact in Katwijk and the surrounding region. The company is committed to playing an active role in the Netherlands’ life sciences & health community as it collaborates with EU and Dutch partners to ensure medical innovations reach patients at speed.
To that end, the Dutch government will continue to support the project. The NFIA and the Invest in Holland network will collaborate with Lilly to make sure the company successfully establishes, grows and becomes anchored within the Dutch ecosystem.
Source: Eli Lilly and Company
3 November 2025