FUNDRAISING GUIDE

Fundraising in Netherlands

Gateway to Europe with a pragmatic startup culture

The Netherlands is a compact but highly productive startup ecosystem centered on Amsterdam, with growing scenes in Rotterdam, Eindhoven, and Delft. Known for practical, globally-minded founders, the Dutch ecosystem benefits from excellent English proficiency, central European location, favorable tax structures, and strong technical universities.

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Ecosystem Highlights

Amsterdam tech hub

Home to Booking.com, Adyen, and Mollie. Amsterdam attracts international talent and has a concentration of fintech and marketplace companies.

Excellent connectivity

Central European location, Schiphol airport, and near-universal English fluency make the Netherlands ideal for pan-European scaling.

Strong technical universities

TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, and University of Twente produce excellent technical founders and deep tech spinouts.

RVO and Horizon Europe

The Netherlands Agency for Enterprise offers innovation vouchers and grants, with strong connections to EU funding programs.

Fundraising Tips

Dutch investors value capital efficiency and realistic plans over hype.
The ecosystem is international. Many Amsterdam-based VCs invest across Europe.
Consider the WBSO (R&D tax credit) to reduce payroll costs for technical staff.
StartupDelta and TechLeap.nl connect startups with investors and support programs.
Rotterdam and Eindhoven have growing ecosystems with less competition for funding.

Average round sizes in Netherlands

Pre-seed€100k – €500k

Seed€500k – €2M

Series A€3M – €12M

Series B€10M – €40M

Cultural Notes for Fundraising

1The Dutch are famously direct. Expect straightforward feedback on your pitch.
2Pragmatism is valued over visionary thinking. Show what works, not just what could work.
3Cycling culture extends to business. Keep things efficient and avoid unnecessary formality.
4International founders are welcome. Many VCs specifically look for diverse, international teams.

Key programs and resources

TechLeap.nlNational platform connecting startups with investors, corporates, and talent.
WBSO tax creditR&D tax credit reducing payroll tax costs for technical employees.
RVO grantsNetherlands Enterprise Agency offering innovation vouchers, SBIR challenges, and EU program connections.
RockstartAmsterdam-based accelerator with programs in energy, agrifood, and emerging tech.

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