R&D labs in Netherlands
The 311 Institute tracks 105 R&D labs in Netherlands: 65 research institutes, 13 corporate, 12 government, 11 university, 2 intergovernmental, 1 military and 1 non-profit. Most are in Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, and the leading organisations include Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dutch Research Council and NWO-I. Their main focus areas are molecular biology, sociology and political science, nuclear and high energy physics and genetics.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
105labs
75organisations
28cities
100verified
Why these labs matter
ESTEC: Where ESA missions are designed and tested.
QuTech: A European leader in the quantum internet.
TNO: The Netherlands' applied research organisation.
Philips Research: Shapes the future of medical imaging and connected health.
All 105 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABN AMRO Dialogues HouseABN AMRO | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Financial services | Entrepreneurship, Innovation | 2017 |
| ASML ResearchASML | Veldhoven, Netherlands | Corporate Technology | Semiconductors, Lithography | |
| Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography (Netherlands)ASML (Netherlands) | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Radiation | 2014 |
| Charles River Laboratories (Netherlands)Charles River Laboratories (United States) | Leiden, Netherlands | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Small Animals, Immunology, Food Science | 1947 |
| Danone Nutricia Research (Netherlands)Danone Nutricia Research (Netherlands) | Utrecht, Netherlands | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Nutrition and Dietetics, Molecular Biology, Food Science | |
| Microsoft Research AI for Science (Amsterdam)Microsoft | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Technology | AI for science | 2022 |
| Nuclear Research and Consultancy GroupNuclear Research and Consultancy Group | Petten, Netherlands | Corporate Aerospace, defence and space | Aerospace Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1955 |
| Nutricia Research (Netherlands)Nutricia Research (Netherlands) | Utrecht, Netherlands | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Nutrition and Dietetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology and Allergy | 1896 |
| NXP SemiconductorsNXP | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Corporate Technology | Automotive chips | 2006 |
| Philips ResearchPhilips | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Health tech, AI, Imaging | 1914 |
| Qualcomm Research NetherlandsQualcomm | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Technology | AI | |
| Shell GameChangerShell | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Energy and resources | Early-stage energy innovation | 1996 |
| Shell Technology Centre AmsterdamShell | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Corporate Energy and resources | Energy transition, Catalysis | |
| Joint Research CentreDirectorate-General Joint Research Centre | Petten, Netherlands | Government Chemicals and materials | Materials Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty | 1961 |
| Dutch Research CouncilDutch Research Council | The Hague, Netherlands | Government Public policy and analysis | Information Systems, Information Systems and Management, Polymers and Plastics | 1950 |
| National Initiative for Education ResearchDutch Research Council | The Hague, Netherlands | Government Social sciences and humanities | Education, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Safety Research | 2012 |
| European Institute of Public AdministrationEuropean Institute of Public Administration | Maastricht, Netherlands | Government Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Public Administration, General Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 1981 |
| European Space Research and Technology CentreEuropean Space Agency | Noordwijk-Binnen, Netherlands | Government Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering, Instrumentation | 1968 |
| Ministry of Education Culture and ScienceGovernment of Netherlands | The Hague, Netherlands | Government Social sciences and humanities | Information Systems and Management, Political Science and International Relations, History and Philosophy of Science | 1918 |
| Royal Netherlands Meteorological InstituteMinistry of Infrastructure and Water Management | De Bilt, Netherlands | Government Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Global and Planetary Change, Oceanography | 1854 |
| QuTechNetherlands government | Delft, Netherlands | Government Technology | Quantum | 2014 |
| Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR)Netherlands government | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Government Aerospace, defence and space | Aerospace | 1919 |
| TNONetherlands government | Delft, Netherlands | Government Technology | Applied research, Defence, Energy | 1932 |
| Netherlands Institute for Social ResearchNetherlands Institute for Social Research | The Hague, Netherlands | Government Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations, General Health Professions | 1973 |
| Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Information Systems, Literature and Literary Theory, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 1808 |
| Netherlands Defence AcademyMinistry of Defence | Breda, Netherlands | Military Social sciences and humanities | Control and Systems Engineering, Political Science and International Relations, Philosophy | |
| Delta Institute for Theoretical PhysicsLeiden University | Amsterdam, Netherlands | University Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Astronomy and Astrophysics | |
| Leiden ObservatoryLeiden University | Leiden, Netherlands | University Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1633 |
| Care and Public Health Research InstituteMaastricht University | Maastricht, Netherlands | University Healthcare and life sciences | Economics and Econometrics, General Health Professions, Pharmacology | |
| Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Nijmegen | Nijmegen, Netherlands | University Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology | |
| Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Nijmegen | Nijmegen, Netherlands | University Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology | 1994 |
| United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and TechnologyUnited Nations University | Maastricht, Netherlands | University Public policy and analysis | Economics and Econometrics, Sociology and Political Science, General Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 2010 |
| Delft University of TechnologyUniversities in Netherlands | Delft, Netherlands | University Multidisciplinary research | Quantum, Engineering | 1842 |
| Amsterdam Institute for Addiction ResearchUniversity of Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | University Healthcare and life sciences | Epidemiology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience | 1993 |
| Institute of PhysicsUniversity of Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | University Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Materials Chemistry | |
| Van Leeuwenhoek Centre for Advanced MicroscopyUniversity of Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands | University Healthcare and life sciences | Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology | 2011 |
| Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of Groningen | Groningen, Netherlands | University Multidisciplinary research | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Molecular Biology, Materials Chemistry | 2007 |
| Netherlands Brain BankNetherlands Brain Bank | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Non-profit Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology | 1985 |
| Joint Research Centre PettenEuropean Commission | Petten, Netherlands | Intergovernmental Energy and resources | Energy, Transport | 1962 |
| ESTECEuropean Space Agency | Noordwijk, Netherlands | Intergovernmental Aerospace, defence and space | Space technology | 1968 |
| African Studies CentreAfrican Studies Centre | Leiden, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations | 1947 |
| Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and DevelopmentAmsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Surgery, Virology | 2007 |
| Amsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdam Neuroscience | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Psychiatry and Mental health, Physiology, Genetics | 2016 |
| Amsterdam Public HealthAmsterdam Public Health | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Physiology, Psychiatry and Mental health | 2009 |
| Borstkanker Onderzoek GroepBorstkanker Onderzoek Groep | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cancer Research, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Oncology | |
| BrainclinicsBrainclinics | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Neurology, Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Mental health | 2001 |
| Centre for Medical Systems BiologyCentre for Medical Systems Biology | Leiden, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Molecular Biology | 2004 |
| DDL Diagnostic LaboratoryDDL Diagnostic Laboratory | Voorburg, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Epidemiology, Microbiology, Otorhinolaryngology | 1985 |
| DianetDianet | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Nephrology, Emergency Medical Services, Water Science and Technology | 1968 |
| Donders Centre for CognitionDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental health, Developmental and Educational Psychology | |
| Donders Centre for Cognitive NeuroimagingDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Developmental and Educational Psychology | |
| Donders Centre for NeuroscienceDonders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Genetics | |
| Dutch Polymer InstituteDutch Polymer Institute | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Organic Chemistry, Polymers and Plastics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 1997 |
| Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)Dutch Research Council | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Technology | Information Systems, Sociology and Political Science, Information Systems and Management | 2005 |
| Space Research Organisation NetherlandsDutch Research Council | Leiden, Netherlands | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1983 |
| Energy Research Centre of the NetherlandsEnergy Research Centre of the Netherlands | Petten, Netherlands | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atmospheric Science, Aerospace Engineering | 1955 |
| Erasmus Optical Imaging CentreErasmus MC | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Cell Biology | |
| Fryske AkademyFryske Akademy | Leeuwarden, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Classics, Linguistics and Language, Language and Linguistics | 1938 |
| Graduate School Experimental Plant SciencesGraduate School Experimental Plant Sciences | Wageningen, Netherlands | Research institute Agriculture and food | Genetics, Plant Science, Molecular Biology | 1992 |
| Imec the NetherlandsImec the Netherlands | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 1984 |
| Institute for High Energy PhysicsInstitute of Physics | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | |
| Institute for Theoretical Physics AmsterdamInstitute of Physics | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Statistical and Nonlinear Physics | |
| Van der Waals-Zeeman InstituteInstitute of Physics | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Basic science | Condensed Matter Physics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics | |
| Instituut VerbeetenInstituut Verbeeten | Tilburg, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Radiation, Cancer Research, Surgery | 1953 |
| IVO Addiction Research InstituteIVO Addiction Research Institute | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Epidemiology, Physiology, Applied Psychology | 1989 |
| J.M. BurgerscentrumJ.M. Burgerscentrum | Delft, Netherlands | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Computational Mechanics, Ocean Engineering, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes | 2019 |
| Leyden Academy on Vitality and AgeingLeyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing | Leiden, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | General Health Professions, Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health | 2008 |
| Materials innovation instituteMaterials innovation institute | Delft, Netherlands | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanical Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering | 1997 |
| Max Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsMax Planck Society | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Language and Linguistics | 1980 |
| Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid DynamicsMax Planck Society | Enschede, Netherlands | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Computational Mechanics, Ocean Engineering, Water Science and Technology | 2017 |
| Netherlands Environmental Assessment AgencyMinistry of Infrastructure and Water Management | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Environment and climate | Economics and Econometrics, Global and Planetary Change, Environmental Chemistry | 2008 |
| Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en DocumentatiecentrumMinistry of Security and Justice | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Law, Sociology and Political Science, Clinical Psychology | 1950 |
| Nederlands Instituut Voor Zuivel OonderzoekNederlands Instituut Voor Zuivel Oonderzoek | Ede, Netherlands | Research institute Agriculture and food | Food Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology | 1948 |
| Netherlands Center for Occupational DiseasesNetherlands Center for Occupational Diseases | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Occupational Therapy, General Health Professions, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health | 1999 |
| Netherlands Forensic InstituteNetherlands Forensic Institute | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Law, Safety Research | 1945 |
| Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular SurgeryNetherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Ophthalmology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health | |
| Netherlands Metabolomics CentreNetherlands Metabolomics Centre | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Spectroscopy, Biochemistry | 2007 |
| Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre LarebNetherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Toxicology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Pharmacology | 1963 |
| Netherlands Proteomics CentreNetherlands Proteomics Centre | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Spectroscopy, Molecular Biology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging | 2003 |
| Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy ResearchNWO-I | Eindhoven, Netherlands | Research institute Multidisciplinary research | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Materials Chemistry, Statistical and Nonlinear Physics | 2012 |
| HFML-FELIXNWO-I | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Research institute Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Spectroscopy, Astronomy and Astrophysics | 2013 |
| Institute for Atomic and Molecular PhysicsNWO-I | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Mechanics | 1946 |
| Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchNWO-I | Den Burg, Netherlands | Research institute Environment and climate | Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, Paleontology | 1876 |
| PAMMPAMM | Veldhoven, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Oncology, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Molecular Medicine | 1947 |
| Panteia (Netherlands)Panteia (Netherlands) | Zoetermeer, Netherlands | Research institute Public policy and analysis | Management of Technology and Innovation, Transportation, Economics and Econometrics | 1930 |
| Pharmo InstitutePharmo Institute | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Geriatrics and Gerontology, Toxicology, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism | 1999 |
| QuSoftQuSoft | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Computational Theory and Mathematics | 2015 |
| ReadeReade | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Rheumatology, Pharmacology, Hematology | |
| Research Institute for Knowledge SystemsResearch Institute for Knowledge Systems | Maastricht, Netherlands | Research institute Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Management Science and Operations Research, Atmospheric Science | |
| Roosevelt Institute for American StudiesRoosevelt Institute for American Studies | Middelburg, Netherlands | Research institute Technology | Molecular Biology, Food Science, Computational Theory and Mathematics | 1986 |
| Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell ResearchRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Oncology, Artificial Intelligence | 1917 |
| Huygens Institute for History and Culture of the NetherlandsRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Literature and Literary Theory, History, Classics | 2011 |
| Meertens InstituteRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Language and Linguistics, Linguistics and Language, Literature and Literary Theory | 1930 |
| Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social SciencesRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Wassenaar, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Language and Linguistics | 1970 |
| Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology | 2005 |
| Netherlands Institute of EcologyRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Wageningen, Netherlands | Research institute Environment and climate | Soil Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics | 1992 |
| Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic InstituteRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Demography, Sociology and Political Science, Accounting | 1970 |
| Rathenau InstituutRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | The Hague, Netherlands | Research institute Public policy and analysis | Information Systems and Management, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Safety Research | 1986 |
| Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean StudiesRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Leiden, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Cultural Studies, Geography, Planning and Development | 1851 |
| Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity InstituteRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Science | 1904 |
| Schothorst Feed ResearchSchothorst Feed Research | Lelystad, Netherlands | Research institute Agriculture and food | Animal Science and Zoology, Agronomy and Crop Science, Aquatic Science | 1934 |
| SPRINTSPRINT | Groningen, Netherlands | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Ocean Engineering, Physiology | 2011 |
| Trimbos InstituteTrimbos Institute | Utrecht, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Social Psychology, Epidemiology, Economics and Econometrics | 1996 |
| VSL National Metrology InstituteVSL National Metrology Institute | Delft, Netherlands | Research institute Public policy and analysis | Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering | 1873 |
| Waag FuturelabWaag Futurelab | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Clinical Psychology, Sociology and Political Science, Education | 1996 |
R&D ecosystems in Netherlands
- Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden)
- Rhineland (Cologne, Bonn, Aachen, Jülich)
- Dortmund region
- Groningen region
Organisations with labs in Netherlands
- Directorate-General Joint Research Centre
- European Commission
- European Space Agency
- Institute of Physics
- Max Planck Society
- Microsoft
- Ministry of Defence
- Qualcomm
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
- United Nations University
Other countries in Europe
- Albania
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uzbekistan
Questions and answers
How many R&D labs are there in Netherlands?
The 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory lists 105 active R&D labs in Netherlands as of October 2026: 65 research institutes, 13 corporate, 12 government, 11 university, 2 intergovernmental, 1 military and 1 non-profit.
Which organisations run the most R&D labs in Netherlands?
In this directory the organisations with the most labs in Netherlands are Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dutch Research Council and NWO-I.
Where are R&D labs concentrated in Netherlands?
They cluster around Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. The largest R&D ecosystem is Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden).
© 311 Institute 2015–2026. This directory is the proprietary work of the 311 Institute, protected by copyright and database rights. Copying, scraping or republishing any substantial part without written permission is prohibited.