While often hidden behind historic canals and tulip fields, the Dutch industrial engine is a powerhouse, contributing a staggering €183.5 billion to the national economy and employing nearly 800,000 people while leading the world in everything from high-tech chipmaking and agricultural exports to sustainable energy innovation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Dutch manufacturing sector contributed €183.5 billion to the gross value added, accounting for 12.4% of the national GDP
- The Dutch manufacturing industry employed 784,000 full-time equivalents in 2022, a 1.2% increase from the previous year
- Metal products manufacturing in the Netherlands produced €28.7 billion worth of goods in 2022, representing 15.6% of total manufacturing output
- In 2022, the Netherlands produced 1.2 million tonnes of natural gas from the Groningen field before full closure
- Dutch renewable energy share in total final energy consumption was 14.8% in 2022
- Total electricity generation in the Netherlands reached 123.4 TWh in 2022, with 40% from renewables
- AkzoNobel, a major Dutch chemical company, produced 12.5 million tonnes of chemicals in 2022
- The Dutch chemical industry exported €52.3 billion worth of products in 2022
- VNCI member companies in the Netherlands employed 92,000 people in the chemical sector in 2022
- The Dutch food processing industry had a turnover of €110 billion in 2022
- Netherlands is the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products with €122 billion in 2022
- Dairy processing in the Netherlands produced 7.2 billion kg of milk products in 2022
- ASML Holding supplied 80% of the world's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines in 2022
- Philips Healthcare generated €18.2 billion in revenue from high-tech medical devices in 2022
- The Dutch high-tech systems sector exported €45.6 billion in 2022
Dutch manufacturing significantly contributes to GDP with strong export and high-tech output.
Chemicals
1AkzoNobel, a major Dutch chemical company, produced 12.5 million tonnes of chemicals in 2022
Verified2The Dutch chemical industry exported €52.3 billion worth of products in 2022
Verified3VNCI member companies in the Netherlands employed 92,000 people in the chemical sector in 2022
Verified4Basic chemicals production in the Netherlands totaled 28.4 million tonnes in 2022
Directional5DSM's nutritional products division generated €4.1 billion in sales in 2022
Single source6Dutch plastics production reached 5.2 million tonnes in 2022
Verified7Chemical industry value added in the Netherlands was €22.7 billion in 2022
Verified8Fertilizer production in the Dutch chemical sector was 7.8 million tonnes in 2022
Verified9R&D investment by Dutch chemical industry was €1.9 billion in 2022
Directional10Paints and coatings production in the Netherlands totaled €3.4 billion turnover in 2022
Single source11Pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Netherlands had €15.2 billion turnover in 2022
Verified12Man-made fibres output in Dutch chemicals was 0.9 million tonnes in 2022
Verified13Chemical industry energy consumption was 15% of national total in 2022
Verified14Number of chemical companies in the Netherlands was 1,850 in 2022
Directional15Specialty chemicals share in Dutch chemical production was 35% in 2022
Single source16Detergents and cleaning products turnover was €2.6 billion in 2022
Verified17CO2 emissions from Dutch chemical industry were 18.5 million tonnes in 2022
Verified18Export share of Dutch chemical production was 85% in 2022
Verified19Average productivity in Dutch chemicals was €320,000 per employee in 2022
Directional20Investments in Dutch chemical plants totaled €3.2 billion in 2022
Single source21Biobased chemicals production grew 12% to 0.4 million tonnes in 2022
Verified22LyondellBasell operated capacity in the Netherlands was 4.5 million tonnes/year in 2022
Verified23Chemical recycling capacity in the Netherlands reached 50,000 tonnes in 2022
Verified24Turnover growth in Dutch chemicals was 6.8% in 2022
DirectionalChemicals Interpretation
From Rotterdam’s bustling ports to its buzzing labs, the Dutch chemical sector proves itself a global titan, producing essential materials for the world while wrestling with the monumental task of decarbonizing its own impressive scale.
Energy
1In 2022, the Netherlands produced 1.2 million tonnes of natural gas from the Groningen field before full closure
Verified2Dutch renewable energy share in total final energy consumption was 14.8% in 2022
Verified3Total electricity generation in the Netherlands reached 123.4 TWh in 2022, with 40% from renewables
Verified4Offshore wind capacity installed in Dutch waters was 2.9 GW at the end of 2022
Directional5Natural gas consumption in the Dutch energy sector was 65.3 billion cubic meters in 2022
Single source6Solar PV capacity in the Netherlands totaled 17.8 GW in 2022
Verified7Dutch energy-intensive industries consumed 28% of total industrial energy in 2022
Verified8Hydrogen production capacity in the Netherlands was 0.1 GW electrolyser in 2022, with plans for expansion
Verified9Onshore wind power generation contributed 12.5 TWh to Dutch electricity in 2022
Directional10Final energy consumption in the Netherlands decreased by 4.2% to 2,450 PJ in 2022
Single source11Coal-fired power generation in the Netherlands fell to 4.8 TWh in 2022
Verified12Energy efficiency improvement in Dutch industry was 1.5% in 2022
Verified13Bioenergy contributed 7.2% to Dutch renewable energy production in 2022
Verified14Dutch electricity import dependency was 15% in 2022
Directional15Number of electric vehicle charging points in the Netherlands reached 120,000 in 2022
Single source16Geothermal energy production in the Netherlands was 1.2 PJ in 2022
Verified17Energy prices for Dutch industry rose 45% in 2022 compared to 2021
Verified18Carbon capture and storage capacity in Dutch North Sea was 10 MtCO2/year in 2022 projects
Verified19District heating coverage in the Netherlands served 8% of households in 2022
Directional20Dutch refineries processed 72.5 million tonnes of crude oil in 2022
Single source21Share of green gas in total gas supply was 3.1% in 2022
Verified22Energy R&D spending by Dutch government was €450 million in 2022
Verified23Peak electricity demand in the Netherlands was 21.5 GW in 2022
Verified24Dutch industry energy taxes totaled €2.8 billion in 2022
DirectionalEnergy Interpretation
The Netherlands spent 2022 energetically waving goodbye to its gas past with one hand while, with a slightly less coordinated other hand, frantically building and buying a renewable future, all while wincing at a whopping 45% energy price hike.
Food and Agriculture Industry
1The Dutch food processing industry had a turnover of €110 billion in 2022
Verified2Netherlands is the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products with €122 billion in 2022
Verified3Dairy processing in the Netherlands produced 7.2 billion kg of milk products in 2022
Verified4Meat processing turnover was €18.5 billion in the Dutch industry in 2022
Directional5Vegetable processing employed 45,000 people in 2022
Single source6Bakery products output in the Netherlands was 1.1 million tonnes in 2022
Verified7Beverage industry turnover reached €14.3 billion, with beer at 6% share in 2022
Verified8Fruit and vegetable juice production was 1.2 billion liters in 2022
Verified9Dutch flower bulb processing exported €1.8 billion in 2022
Directional10Seed production and processing turnover was €2.4 billion in 2022
Single source11Food industry R&D spending was €650 million in 2022
Verified12Number of food manufacturing firms was 18,200 in 2022
Verified13Organic food processing share was 4.5% of total in 2022
Verified14Greenhouse horticulture production value was €25 billion in 2022
Directional15Poultry processing output was 1.05 billion kg in 2022
Single source16Fish processing turnover €3.2 billion in 2022
Verified17Confectionery production was 450,000 tonnes in 2022
Verified18Margarine and fats production 650,000 tonnes in 2022
Verified19Food export to EU was 55% of total agri-food exports in 2022
Directional20Energy use in Dutch food industry was 120 PJ in 2022
Single source21Waste generation in food processing 2.1 million tonnes in 2022
Verified22Precision agriculture tech adoption 68% in Dutch farms in 2022
Verified23Fertilizer use efficiency improved 12% in 2022
Verified24Irrigation coverage 25% of agricultural land in 2022
Directional25Agri-food employment 550,000 FTE in 2022
Single source26Yield of potatoes 45 tonnes/ha in 2022
Verified27Greenhouse gas emissions from agri-food 18% of national total in 2022
Verified28Investment in agri-tech €1.2 billion in 2022
VerifiedFood and Agriculture Industry Interpretation
From tulip bulbs to dairy herds, the Netherlands feeds Europe and beyond with an impressive but energy-hungry industrial ballet that churns out billions in exports while wrestling with its own monumental waste and emissions.
High-Tech and Engineering
1ASML Holding supplied 80% of the world's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines in 2022
Verified2Philips Healthcare generated €18.2 billion in revenue from high-tech medical devices in 2022
Verified3The Dutch high-tech systems sector exported €45.6 billion in 2022
Verified4Engineering services turnover in the Netherlands was €32.4 billion in 2022
Directional5NXP Semiconductors, Dutch-origin, had €13.2 billion sales in automotive chips in 2022
Single source6R&D expenditure in Dutch high-tech industry was €12.5 billion in 2022
Verified7Number of high-tech startups in the Netherlands reached 1,200 in 2022
Verified8Robotics industry employment 15,000 in 2022
Verified9Semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Eindhoven region 20% of Europe in 2022
Directional103D printing market in Dutch high-tech was €450 million in 2022
Single source11Aerospace engineering exports €4.2 billion in 2022
Verified12ICT hardware manufacturing turnover €8.9 billion in 2022
Verified13Patent applications in high-tech sectors 12,500 in 2022
Verified14Brainport Eindhoven high-tech GDP contribution 25% regional in 2022
Directional15Quantum technology investments €200 million in 2022
Single source16Precision engineering firms 2,500 in number in 2022
Verified17Automation software exports €3.1 billion in 2022
Verified18Biotech engineering turnover €6.7 billion in 2022
Verified19High-tech employment 450,000 FTE in 2022
Directional20Venture capital in high-tech €2.8 billion in 2022
Single source21AI applications in Dutch engineering 35% adoption rate in 2022
Verified22Optical equipment production €1.9 billion in 2022
Verified23Nanotechnology R&D €350 million spent in 2022
Verified24Shipbuilding high-tech turnover €1.5 billion in 2022
Directional25Cybersecurity hardware exports €900 million in 2022
Single sourceHigh-Tech and Engineering Interpretation
For a country its size, the Netherlands is operating as the globe's indispensable high-tech workshop, masterfully carving out the microscopic chips, medical machines, and precision systems upon which modern civilization increasingly depends.
Manufacturing
1In 2022, the Dutch manufacturing sector contributed €183.5 billion to the gross value added, accounting for 12.4% of the national GDP
Verified2The Dutch manufacturing industry employed 784,000 full-time equivalents in 2022, a 1.2% increase from the previous year
Verified3Metal products manufacturing in the Netherlands produced €28.7 billion worth of goods in 2022, representing 15.6% of total manufacturing output
Verified4Dutch food manufacturing turnover reached €103.2 billion in 2022, up 8.5% from 2021
Directional5The machinery manufacturing sector in the Netherlands exported €17.4 billion in products in 2022
Single source6Electrical equipment manufacturing in the Netherlands had a value added of €6.8 billion in 2022
Verified7Dutch textile manufacturing output grew by 3.2% in 2022 to €4.1 billion
Verified8The printing and reproduction of recorded media sector in the Netherlands generated €2.9 billion in turnover in 2022
Verified9Dutch rubber and plastics manufacturing employed 32,000 people in 2022
Directional10Furniture manufacturing in the Netherlands saw a 5.1% decline in production volume in 2022
Single source11Other manufacturing sectors in the Netherlands contributed €45.6 billion to GDP in 2022
Verified12Repair and installation of machinery turnover in Dutch manufacturing was €12.3 billion in 2022
Verified13Dutch manufacturing productivity per hour worked increased by 2.1% in 2022 to €62.4
Verified14Energy intensity in Dutch manufacturing decreased by 1.8% in 2022
Directional15R&D expenditure in Dutch manufacturing reached €8.7 billion in 2022, 4.7% of turnover
Single source16Dutch manufacturing export share was 78% of total production in 2022
Verified17Capacity utilization in Dutch manufacturing averaged 82.3% in 2022
Verified18Number of manufacturing enterprises in the Netherlands was 62,400 in 2022
Verified19Average wage in Dutch manufacturing was €48,200 annually in 2022
Directional20Investment in tangible goods by Dutch manufacturing was €14.2 billion in 2022
Single source21Greenhouse gas emissions from Dutch manufacturing totaled 45.2 million tonnes CO2-eq in 2022
Verified22Dutch manufacturing imported €112.4 billion in intermediate goods in 2022
Verified23Share of high-tech manufacturing in total manufacturing output was 28.6% in 2022
Verified24Dutch manufacturing SMEs accounted for 62% of employment in 2022
Directional25Turnover per employee in Dutch manufacturing was €245,000 in 2022
Single source26Dutch manufacturing sector's trade surplus was €67.8 billion in 2022
Verified27Automation rate in Dutch manufacturing reached 45% in 2022
Verified28Female employment share in Dutch manufacturing was 22.4% in 2022
Verified29Digital intensity index for Dutch manufacturing was 42.1 out of 100 in 2022
DirectionalManufacturing Interpretation
While robots may be automating nearly half the factory floors and women remain a stark minority, the stubborn heart of the Netherlands still pumps metal and chocolate, proving its €67.8 billion trade surplus is built on brainpower, butter, and a surprising amount of high-tech glue.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 2ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 3AKZONOBELakzonobel.comVisit source
- Reference 4VNCIvnci.nlVisit source
- Reference 5DSMdsm.comVisit source
- Reference 6LYONDELLBASELLlyondellbasell.comVisit source
- Reference 7WAGENINGENURwageningenur.nlVisit source
- Reference 8WURwur.nlVisit source
- Reference 9ASMLasml.comVisit source
- Reference 10PHILIPSphilips.comVisit source
- Reference 11NXPnxp.comVisit source
- Reference 12BRAINPORTbrainport.nlVisit source