Amsterdam – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has a long history of commerce and entrepreneurship. It has also long been a favourite among visitors of all ages. So much so that from 2018 on, inner-city hotels will have to charge an additional tourist tax which will be invested in improving the city’s facilities and quality of life for residents.

Apart from being one of Europe’s most popular city destinations, how is Amsterdam doing according to international rankings that measure sustainability, innovation, global influence, and other aspects linked to its reputation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global attractiveness
• How appealing for talent, investors, visitors, and locals?

Economic Competitiveness and Financial Performance

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Amsterdam 19^th, falling three positions since the previous ranking – now between Zurich (18^th) and Tokyo (20^th). It ranks 8^th in Business Environment and 13^th in Infrastructure. It also performs very well in the Fintech (8^th) and Finance (14^th) industry sectors. Amsterdam holds the 7^th position in the Western European region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Amsterdam ranks 20^th, a jump of four positions since the previous ranking. The city now sits between Madrid (19^th) and Seattle (21^st).

Amsterdam’s Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Amsterdam ranks 10^th globally with a score of 75.7/100, sitting between Dubai (9^th) and Miami (11^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Amsterdam a very strong 9^th globally, scoring 24^th in Prosperity, 22^nd in Lovability, and 5^th in Livability. It also scored 4^th in Labour Force Participation and 5^th for Biking. Overall, comparable to Barcelona (8^th) and above Seoul (10^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Amsterdam 20^th, a jump of three positions since the previous ranking. The city also ranks 11^th in the same firm’s Global Cities Outlook, a drop of one position since the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks Amsterdam 6^th. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city fares 12^th in Economy, 19^th in R&D, 15^th in Cultural Interaction, 8^th in Livability, 17^th in Environment, and 1^st in Accessibility. Amsterdam ranks 7^th for Nightlife Options and 2^nd for Average Driving Speed (which is low). Lastly, in terms of appeal, Amsterdam does very well: 6^th among Highly-skilled Workers, 6^th among Corporate Executives, 3^rd among Residents, and 5^th among Tourists.

How Attractive as a Place to Live, Work and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Amsterdam 14^th, tying with Basel. The same firm’s Cost of Living Ranking puts it 28^th, behind Djibouti (27^th) and above Atlanta (29^th).

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Amsterdam ranks 17^th out of 56 global cities – comparable with Toronto (16^th) and Geneva (18^th).

Lastly, the Netherlands’ largest city is home to one of the best universities in the world. According to The Times Higher Education ranking, the University of Amsterdam ranks 61^st. The QS World University ranking puts it 53^rd.

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Amsterdam 10^th overall, sitting between San Francisco (9^th) and Zurich (11^th). Its sustainability pillar rankings are: Planet 14^th, People 10^th, and Profit 25^th. Its strengths are connectivity, job quality, and transport infrastructure. Affordability and ease of doing business are areas which could be improved.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city profiles in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Amsterdam’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.