Amsterdam City Performance, Brand Image and Reputation

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has a long history of commerce and entrepreneurship. It has also long been a favorite 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 explore deeper how Amsterdam positions itself on the world stage, drawing insights from data provided by TPBO partners and other reputable institutions.

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Amsterdam’s competitiveness and financial performance
• Amsterdam’s brand strength and global attractiveness
• Livability: Amsterdam’s appeal for digital nomads and locals

Amsterdam’s competitiveness and financial performance

How attractive is Amsterdam as a place to work and do business? 

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Amsterdam 19^th, falling three positions from the previous ranking. It is currently sitting between Zurich (18^th) and Tokyo (20^th). It ranks the following in areas of competitiveness: 8th 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 20th, a jump of four positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits in between Madrid (19^th) and Seattle (21^st).

Amsterdam’s brand strength and global attractiveness 

Which subfactors hurt and help the brand of Amsterdam? 

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Amsterdam 9^th, scoring the following in the Place Power Score subfactors: 24^th in Prosperity, 22^nd in Lovability, and 5^th in Livability. It also scored the following in Place Power Highlights: 4^th in Labour Force Participation and 5^th for Biking. It currently sits just behind Barcelona (8^th), and above Seoul (10^th).

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

The comprehensive ranking of the Global Power City Index ranks Amsterdam 6^th. In terms of function-specific rankings, the city ranks 12^th in terms of 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. Lastly, Amsterdam positioned 6^th in the Highly-skilled Workers, 6^th in the Corporate Executive, 3^rd in the Resident, and 5^th in the Tourism categories.

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

Livability: Amsterdam’s appeal for digital nomads and locals

Which aspects of Amsterdam’s urban living make it an attractive place to live, work and study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Amsterdam 14^th, tying with Basel. The Mercer Cost of Living Ranking ranks Amsterdam 28^th behind Djibouti (27^th), and above Atlanta (29^th). The cost living survey reports that factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices are key to determine the cost of expat packages for employees on international assignment.

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

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

Lastly, Amsterdam 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. Whereas, the QS World University ranking ranks the University of Amsterdam 53^rd.

Last updated in January 2024. More city benchmarking insights, profiles and reports in our City Observatory.

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