A new AI hub called The Stack is opening in Amsterdam this September, aiming to bring together the country’s fastest-growing AI startups under one roof and stop Europe from outsourcing its tech future.
According to the press release, the idea is simple: put founders, investors, and big corporate partners in the same building, and watch the sparks fly.
With more than €10 million in private money and the City of Amsterdam behind it, a lot hinges on this project.
A smart move for Europe
Currently, Europe is feeling nervous about how much it depends on AI built elsewhere. And that concern hasn’t come out of thin air; the US has produced 40 AI foundation models, while Europe has managed just three.
The Stack, writes the release, “is founded to change that by giving Europe’s best AI builders a physical home.”
What is The Stack?
Essentially, you can think of it as a haven for AI companies: a single building in Amsterdam where startups, investors, and corporate giants all work within “Let’s grab a coffee and chat?” distance of each other.
The complex will officially open its doors in September 2026 at Jacob Bontiusplaats 9 in Oostenburg, a former industrial pocket on the eastern edge of the city.
At launch, it’ll host a curated group of fast-growing startups, with Ubicloud, Dawnguard, and Iconic Works first through the door.
Backers include a mix of Dutch and global giants, including ABN AMRO, ClickHouse, Deloitte, IMC, Google, Miro, and Prosus.
Why is this happening now?
Needless to say, the timing isn’t a coincidence.
With Anthropic’s latest AI models no longer available in Europe, the EU has had a major wake-up call about its reliance on foreign AI companies.
The Stack’s founding director, Esther Bisschop, didn’t mince words: “Our digital infrastructure still relies too heavily on players outside our continent. The US and China are racing ahead, while Europe continues to watch from the sidelines.”
In her view, the problem isn’t a lack of ambition but a lack of somewhere to channel it. Will The Stack act as a hub for home-grown talent? Only time will tell.
What does this mean for internationals in the Netherlands?
If you work in tech (or want to!), these are changes worth knowing about.
Amsterdam already has a dynamic startup scene that consistently ranks among Europe’s best, and a hub like this could mean more jobs, more funding, and more reasons for EU talent to stay within the borders, rather than head across the ocean to Silicon Valley.
Through partners like Techleap, a Dutch organisation that supports startups, The Stack says it’ll be connected to universities and research institutions both here and abroad.
Would you want to work somewhere like The Stack, or are you rolling your eyes at the AI hype? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
