Rotterdam #1 city for connectivity in 2025

Rotterdam maintains its position at the forefront of urban connectivity in Europe, being named the best-connected large European city in fDi Intelligence’s Cities of the Future 2025 report. The #1 ranking reaffirms Rotterdam’s role as a strategic gateway for international business, logistics, and innovation.

The city also maintains its strong reputation for investment appeal, ranking in the top 10 for business friendliness. This reaffirms Rotterdam’s commitment to offering a competitive, future-ready environment for international businesses, congresses and events.

Rotterdam is internationally recognized as the ‘Gateway to Europe’, thanks to its strategic location near the North Sea and along the Maas River and reinforced by world-class connectivity. With Europe’s largest seaport, high-speed rail links to major European cities, and two international airports offering direct flights to over 300 destinations, Rotterdam is seamlessly accessible by air, road, rail, and sea. This infrastructure enables businesses to connect efficiently with European markets, with all major economic hubs reachable within 24 hours.

Rotterdam plays a pivotal role in the global energy transition. As home to Europe’s largest port and one of the continent’s most concentrated industrial and petrochemical regions, the city is uniquely positioned to lead the shift toward clean and sustainable energy. From large-scale hydrogen projects to circular economy initiatives, Rotterdam is a living lab for innovation where climate solutions are being developed and scaled. With this ambitious, collaborative approach, the city drives progress on one of today’s most urgent challenges.

"I’m proud of the continued recognition from fDi Intelligence, which underscores Rotterdam’s ongoing commitment to the energy transition. Global acknowledgments like this are essential in showcasing our city’s progress and ambition to the international community. Through close collaboration with the City of Rotterdam, Invest in Holland, and our valued network of partners and stakeholders, we’re actively positioning Rotterdam as a leading city for innovation, attracting forward-thinking investors who see the value of being part of a future-focused business ecosystem." - shares Jorn Douwstra, manager International Trade & Investment at Rotterdam Partners.

fDi Intelligence is the Financial Times’ specialist service for global investment professionals and institutions, focusing primarily on FDI news and in-depth analysis of the corporate investment climate across many sectors.