Grid congestion is no longer only a technical constraint for Dutch energy policy. In Dutch Business Review's new October 2026 primary research, it is showing up directly in investment decisions.
Among 3,568 respondents, 36.6% said grid congestion had delayed an investment. A further 15.1% were considering relocation, 8.5% said an investment had already been relocated and 5.7% reported a cancellation. Only 34.1% selected no effect.
Available capacity could unlock investment
The counterfactual is unusually strong. Asked whether their organisation would increase investment in the Netherlands if grid capacity were immediately available, 39.2% answered definitely and 41.1% probably. Together, 80.3% indicate additional investment appetite under a less constrained grid.
The result does not estimate how much capital would be deployed. It does show that connection capacity is being experienced by DBR's readership as an investment variable rather than an abstract infrastructure issue.
Semiconductors sit at the centre of the allocation debate
When respondents were asked which projects should receive priority when grid capacity is scarce, semiconductor facilities ranked first at 21.8%, followed by public infrastructure at 19.0% and housing at 18.7%. Data centres received 3.2%.
That result fits the wider Brainport question. Talent was selected by 24.5% as the greatest threat to the Dutch semiconductor ecosystem and electricity/grid capacity by 24.0%, leaving the two constraints effectively level within this audience survey.
ASML dependence is visible in the research
The same survey asked whether the Netherlands could retain semiconductor leadership without ASML. Forty-four per cent answered no and 37.1% probably not. Only 18.8% chose yes or probably.
That does not mean the Dutch semiconductor ecosystem consists only of ASML. DBR's supply-chain research maps ASM International, Besi, NXP, Nexperia, VDL and a much wider supplier network. The result instead captures how central respondents perceive ASML to be to the cluster's international position.
Methodology
Dutch Business Review surveyed 3,568 members of its audience in the October 2026 research wave. Results describe respondents to the publication's survey and are not weighted to represent the Netherlands population or all Dutch businesses. Percentages are calculated from valid responses to each question.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Investment delayed by grid congestion | 36.6% |
| Considering relocation | 15.1% |
| Investment relocated | 8.5% |
| Investment cancelled | 5.7% |
| Would definitely/probably increase investment with immediate grid capacity | 80.3% |
| Support more direct semiconductor-company support | 72.9% |
| Netherlands could not/probably could not retain semiconductor leadership without ASML | 81.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is this a representative survey of Dutch businesses?
No. It is a Dutch Business Review audience survey of 3,568 respondents and should be interpreted as primary research into DBR's readership rather than nationally representative polling.