On 11 September 2025, the Residence of Belgium in The Hague opened its doors to over 30 Dutch life sciences and health organisations for the Health~Holland Meet-up Europe. Hosted by the Belgian Embassy, powered by Health~Holland, and facilitated by TFHC, the event brought together a dynamic group of stakeholders to explore opportunities in three key European markets: Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
With the shared ambition of strengthening internationalisation and cross-border collaboration, the afternoon programme offered both strategic insights and practical discussions, all within the beautiful setting of the Belgian Ambassador’s residence.
Key Takeaways
- Belgium: A MedTech hotspot, with an Antares Consulting study identifying 19 concrete opportunities for Dutch companies.
- United Kingdom: Dutch organisations see strong potential in the NHS market, but common barriers remain: distributor access, navigating the system, and building follow-up.
- Ireland: Growing appetite for collaboration in digital health, medical devices, and R&D, making it a promising market for Dutch innovators.
Main Activities
- Inspiring opening remarks by H.E. Koen Adam, Ambassador of Belgium, set the stage for dialogue.
- Sjanna Bosma (Health~Holland) provided an update on the internationalisation strategy of the Dutch LSH sector.
- Market briefings by Michiel Deprez (Embassy of the Netherlands in Belgium), Chiara Poulteney (British Embassy in The Hague), and Helena Pluimes (TFHC) shed light on the latest opportunities and challenges across Belgium, the UK, and Ireland.
- A “country merry-go-round” format encouraged interactive exchange, giving participants the chance to rotate through small-group discussions with experts and peers.
- The day concluded with informal networking over drinks, creating space for new connections and collaborations.
What’s Next
The Health~Holland Meet-up Europe not only provided fresh insights but also sparked valuable connections. TFHC will continue to build on this momentum by:
- Sharing the outcomes with the Dutch LSH ecosystem.
- Supporting targeted follow-ups between participants and international counterparts.
- Exploring opportunities for future Health~Holland Meet-ups and missions across Europe.
Together with Health~Holland, the Embassies of Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands, FIT, and RVO, we are committed to showcasing Dutch excellence abroad and strengthening European partnerships for the future of health.
Resources & Presentations
For those who want to dive deeper, the event content is available here:
- 📄 Market Study Belgium: Opportunities in the MedTech Sector (commissioned by the Netherlands Embassy in Belgium, supported by RVO)
- 📄 Market Study Ireland: Ireland: Connected Health, MedTech & Healthy Ageing (commissioned by the Netherlands Embassy in Dublin, supported by RVO)
- 📊 United Kingdom Market Presentation (British Embassy The Hague) (available upon request)
- 📊 International Strategy (Health~Holland) (available upon request)
Stay connected
For more information about this mission or opportunities for collaboration, feel free to reach out:
Phone: +316 82 39 04 68
E-mail: info@tfhc.nl
