The Province of South Holland recently joined forces with the cities of Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Delft for a new collaboration within the national New Dutch movement. Together with the Province of South Holland, these cities form the South Holland New Dutch Alliance, in which they contribute from their own roles to broader cooperation within the province. Through this alliance, the partners strengthen their collaboration and better utilize their collective strength within the region and beyond.
The collaboration is built on the strength of the cities themselves. Each city brings its own profile and expertise: from life science & health in Leiden to maritime innovation in Rotterdam, impact and cybersecurity in The Hague, and high-tech engineering in Delft. It is precisely these areas of expertise, along with complementary strengths within the province, that together form the basis for the collaboration within South Holland.
Strong cities as a foundation
The alliance deliberately opts for a network-oriented approach in which the cities take center stage. They retain their own identity and positioning, while joining forces and putting stories and innovations from the South Holland region in the spotlight. This pooling creates a powerful and recognizable offering for talent, businesses, and investors. “The strength of this collaboration lies not in a single overarching narrative, but rather in the combination of strong, distinctive cities that reinforce each other. Together, these unique qualities form the strength of the Province of South Holland,” says Meindert Stolk, Deputy for Economy and Innovation of the Province of South Holland.
Stronger together in profiling and attractiveness
With the South Holland Alliance, the partners aim to contribute to an attractive business climate, attract international talent, and strengthen innovation ecosystems. By joining forces within the New Dutch movement, they increase their reach and impact, both nationally and internationally. The added value for South Holland therefore lies in the collaboration itself: connecting urban qualities, networks, and stories into a coherent and powerful whole.
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 management boards of the participating organizations. Marco Esser, Director of The Hague & Partners: “The Hague has a strong international position in the fields of impact, cybersecurity, and new energy. By connecting this strength with the other major cities in our province, we can present a much stronger and more complete story both nationally and internationally. This collaboration enables us, as a region, to contribute to an attractive and innovative ecosystem that draws talent and businesses to South Holland.”
Photo: Martijn Beekman
Text: The Hague & Partners
Translation to English: The Hague Online