South Holland cities join forces to boost international appeal and innovation
Residents and businesses in South Holland could benefit from stronger global visibility as Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, and Delft unite under a new alliance. The collaboration aims to attract investment and talent by showcasing the region’s solutions in energy, health, and digitalization.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Alliance Name | South Holland Alliance |
| Participating Cities | Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Delft |
| Province Involved | Zuid-Holland |
| Initiative | newdutch (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RVO, NBTC) |
| Focus Areas | Energy, health, digitalization |
| Goal | Strengthen international positioning and visibility |
| Official Start Date | March 30, 2026 |
| Key Stakeholder | Meindert Stolk (Deputy for the Province of South Holland) |
The Province of South Holland plays a coordinating role in regional development, including economic growth and international positioning. This alliance aligns with its broader strategy to enhance collaboration between cities and leverage their collective strengths for global competitiveness.
Read the full translated article below
The South Holland Alliance is now a reality
Yesterday, we officially formalized our collaboration with the city marketing organizations Rotterdam Partners, The Hague & Partners, Leiden&Partners, and Delft Marketing.
This alliance strengthens our place marketing: by connecting knowledge, networks, and initiatives, cities and the province present themselves more strongly and increase their joint international visibility.
The collaboration is part of newdutch, an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and NBTC, to which both the cities and the province are affiliated. The goal: to position the Netherlands internationally as an innovative country working on concrete solutions to challenges such as energy, health, and digitalization.
Meindert Stolk, Deputy for the Province of South Holland: “The strength does not lie in a single overarching narrative, but precisely in the combination of strong, distinctive cities that reinforce each other. These unique qualities together form the strength of South Holland.”