Amsterdam
Capital of the Netherlands; emerging European hub for defence-tech firms seeking EU market access.
Last refreshed: 5 April 2026
Why did a leading counter-drone firm choose Amsterdam as its European headquarters?
Latest on Amsterdam
- Why did DroneShield open an office in Amsterdam?
- DroneShield opened its European HQ in Amsterdam on 30 March 2026 to access EU procurement channels and Begin EU manufacturing, targeting a $1.2 billion European pipeline.Source: drones-industry-defence
- What is Amsterdam's role in NATO?
- Schiphol airport is a key NATO logistics node. The Netherlands is also one of Europe's more active military equipment donors to Ukraine.Source: drones-industry-defence
- Why are defence firms setting up in the EU?
- ReArm Europe spending rules favour goods with significant European content. Non-EU firms are opening EU manufacturing sites to qualify for the multi-billion-euro procurement surge.Source: drones-industry-defence
Background
Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands, a city of roughly 900,000 people and one of Europe's most important financial and technology centres. It gained fresh defence significance in March 2026 when DroneShield opened its European headquarters there, citing EU manufacturing requirements and a $1.2 billion European pipeline as the strategic rationale.
The Netherlands has a longstanding role in NATO logistics and European security architecture. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is a key NATO logistics node, and the Dutch government has been among the more active European donors of military equipment to Ukraine since 2022. The city's tech ecosystem and English-language business environment make it a preferred European base for non-EU firms requiring single-market access.
DroneShield's choice reflects a broader trend of non-European defence-tech firms establishing EU manufacturing presence to qualify for ReArm Europe spending, which restricts procurement to goods with significant European content. European revenue for DroneShield reached $98 million in 2025, representing 45% of total company revenue, underlining the scale of EU demand driving this trend.
