The number of foreign investments in the Netherlands soared 47% in 2015, according to research by accountants group EY.

In total, foreign investors put money into 219 different projects last year. They ranged from logistics operations to sales and marketing and head offices. Most foreign firms came from the US but there was a sharp rise in Chinese involvement.

The Netherlands is considered a safe place to do business and has benefited from the upturn in the global economy, EY said. However, in 2016, there will be a slight downturn in foreign investments, the accountancy group said.

EY also quoted research by the Harvard Business Review which suggested the Netherlands is losing its digital economy advantages and risks trailing other countries in this field as development stagnates.