North Holland was the largest provincial economy in the Netherlands in 2024, producing €243.3 billion of GDP. South Holland followed at €231.2 billion, according to Statistics Netherlands regional accounts.
The two provinces dominate for different reasons. North Holland contains Amsterdam's finance, technology, tourism and business-services economy. South Holland includes Rotterdam's port and industrial complex, The Hague's public institutions and a large logistics base.
Utrecht stands out on output per person
Utrecht produced €106.3 billion of GDP, smaller in total than the two western giants but equivalent to €75,651 per person. North Holland remained higher at €81,539 per person.
GDP per capita is not household income. Commuting and corporate activity can lift output in a province even when many workers live elsewhere. Still, it is a useful measure of economic intensity.
Gelderland is the largest outside the western core
Gelderland produced €114.9 billion in 2024, making it one of the largest provincial economies outside North and South Holland. Overijssel followed at €64.5 billion among the figures highlighted by CBS.
The regional spread matters for companies deciding where to locate. Eindhoven's technology cluster, for example, can be economically more important to a specific industry than a province's overall GDP rank suggests.
Growth rates tell a different story
Flevoland grew 2.1% in 2024 and Utrecht 2.3%, while Groningen contracted 2.1%. Resource exposure, population growth and sector mix can create large differences in annual performance.
A location decision should therefore combine GDP with labour availability, infrastructure, housing, energy access and the sector cluster relevant to the business.