Record number of international firms opened Amsterdam offices in 2015

A record number of 140 new international companies established offices in Amsterdam last year. Together these companies will provide 2,953 jobs in the city over the next three years, the city announced on Friday. It is a slight increase over 2014, when 139 new international companies set up shop in Amsterdam. "I am very proud of these figures. Amsterdam - and the region as a whole - is clearly on the up", Kasja Ollongren, alderman of Economic Affairs, said. "International talent evidently feels at home here, which is fantastic news. That ensures companies from all over the world continue to establish here and fuel our economy." The IT and Tech sector was the most popular sector last year, with 36 international companies operating in this sector opening doors in Amsterdam. Other key sectors were the business and financial sector with 23 new international companies and the creative industry with 15 new companies. Most of the new companies originate from the United States. Shutterstock and WeWork are two of the 47 American companies who opened offices in Amsterdam last year. Fifteen companies came from the United Kingdom and 36 companies came from the Asian nations, mostly China and Japan. In addition to the new companies, 35 already established international companies expanded their operations in 2015, resulting in 3,068 extra jobs.