South Holland Cities Join Forces in New Dutch Alliance
The Province of South Holland has joined forces with the cities of Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Delft in a new collaboration within the national New Dutch movement. Together, the Province of South Holland and these cities form the South Holland New Dutch Alliance, through which each partner contributes from its own role to broader cooperation across the province. With this alliance, the partners strengthen their collaboration and make better use of their collective strengths, both within the region and beyond.
The partnership is built on the unique strengths of the individual cities. Each city brings its own distinct profile and expertise: from life sciences & health in Leiden to maritime innovation in Rotterdam, impact and cybersecurity in The Hague, and high-tech engineering in Delft. Together with the province’s complementary strengths, these areas of expertise form the foundation of collaboration across South Holland.
Strong Cities as the Foundation
The alliance deliberately adopts a network-based approach in which the cities take center stage. Each city retains its own identity and positioning while working together to showcase the stories, innovations, and achievements emerging from the South Holland region. By combining their strengths, the partners create a compelling and distinctive proposition for talent, businesses, and investors.
"The strength of this collaboration does not lie in one overarching narrative, but in the combination of strong, distinctive cities that reinforce one another. Together, these unique qualities define the strength of the Province of South Holland," said Meindert Stolk, Deputy for Economy and Innovation of the Province of South Holland.
Stronger Together in Positioning and Attractiveness
Through the South Holland Alliance, the partners aim to contribute to an attractive business climate, attract international talent, and strengthen innovation ecosystems. By working together within the New Dutch movement, they expand their reach and impact, both nationally and internationally. The added value for South Holland lies in the collaboration itself: connecting the cities’ distinctive qualities, networks, and stories into one coherent and powerful proposition.
Partners in the Alliance
The South Holland New Dutch Alliance consists of Leiden&Partners, The Hague & Partners, Rotterdam Partners, Delft Marketing, and the Province of South Holland. The agreement was signed by the directors of the participating organizations.
Marco Esser, Director of The Hague & Partners, said:
"The Hague has a strong international position in the fields of impact, cybersecurity, and new energy. By connecting these strengths with those of the other major cities in our province, we can present a much stronger and more comprehensive story on both the national and international stage. This collaboration enables us, as a region, to contribute to an attractive and innovative ecosystem that draws talent and businesses to South Holland."