Amsterdam better for technology firms than Boston or Berlin: report

Illustration: Depositphotos.com

Amsterdam is one of the most attractive cities in the world for technology companies, according to a new report comparing the world’s biggest tech centres.

Its excellent connections with other business centres, the availability of well-educated workers who speak good English and attractive living conditions rank the Dutch capital in fifth place on property consultant Savills’ list of the 22 cities at the forefront of tech worldwide.

Only Austin, San Francisco, New York and London are ranked higher. And Amsterdam gets a better rating on the Savills list than the ‘tech powers’ Hong Kong, Boston, Singapore and Berlin.

Amsterdam is a ‘magnet for talent’ and living costs are half those in London, the report says, adding that both are attractive features for start-ups. The Dutch capital also has low levels of pollution and crime. In Savills-speak, Amsterdam scores high on wellness and buzz. More importantly Amsterdam offers a good balance between working and living.

For these reasons Amsterdam is home to a growing number of Dutch and international technology firms. On Thursday, the online broadcaster Netflix (House of Cards and other series) announced it would employ 400 at its Amsterdam customer service centre when it opens at the end of 2018.

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