Creative industry

Utrecht is the second creative hotspot of the Netherlands, with over 13,000 jobs. Utrecht offers many creative initiatives. The creative sector is a well-performing Dutch industry and the fastest growing industry in Utrecht. In the past years (2011-2016) the number of jobs within the creative sector grew by 19%.

Utrecht houses important breeding grounds and knowledge centers, such as the Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht, University of the Arts Utrecht (HKU) and University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU), which produce many new creative and innovative talents every year.

The Utrecht Centre of Expertise for the Creative Industry (U Create) connects higher education, research and companies in the creative industries. Here also, health care and creative sector professionals collaborate together on numerous creative projects that have a social foundation.

In Utrecht, there are various inspiring hubs to be found, such as the Metaal Kathedraal, Vechtclub XL and the Werkspoorkathedraal. In addition, Utrecht is home to the Dutch Game Garden, incubator for starting gaming companies.

These companies are already established in Utrecht

“Navigant’s global Energy Practice is a leading international energy and sustainability consulting firm. We have been located in Utrecht since the founding of Ecofys in 1984. With its excellent university and research capacities, the city was a natural habitat for our innovative field of work.”

-Anja de Jong, COO Europe and Middle East

“We found an attractive home for the employees of two merging companies in a dynamic and inspiring setting, where customers and companies can experience directly who we are and what we do.”

-Marieke Dekker, Executive Director External Affairs

“Utrecht is in all respects a true student city. The intellectual level associated with this makes it an inspirational environment in which to live and work. This atmosphere is attractive to both national and international companies that wish to base themselves in Utrecht.”

-Rien Nagel, Rabobank
Executive Board

“The cooperation with the city’s municipality was decisive in the choice to locate the main office of Except and UCo in Utrecht. Their input was essential for the initial set up. With their ongoing support, dedication and effort UCo is now a reality and Europe’s first energy neutral, healthy, sustainable office in a monument.”

– Tom Bosschaert, Initiator und Founder UCo

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