10 Top Architecture Firms in Netherlands; 2025 Review
The Netherlands is renowned for its innovative and forward-thinking approach to architecture. The country has become a global leader in sustainable, functional, and aesthetically striking structures.
As of 2024, the Dutch architectural sector has grown exponentially, with over 10,000 active architecture firms contributing to the industry. According to recent reports, architecture accounts for approximately 2.5% of the Netherlands’ GDP, emphasizing its significance in the national economy. The rise in demand for energy-efficient and environmentally conscious designs has positioned Dutch firms at the forefront of global trends.
In this article we reviewed the 10 top architecture firms in Netherlands. Let’s dive in further and get inspired.
Top Architecture Firms in Netherlands
Here, we reviewed top architecture firms in Netherlands including, Mecanoo, KAAN Architecten, PowerHouse Company, MVRDV, OMA, Atelier Kempe Thill, MVSA Architects, Paul de Ruiter Architects, NEXT Architects, and Architecten Bureau Cepezed.
1. Mecanoo
Founded in 1984 in Delft, Mecanoo is an internationally acclaimed top architecture firms in Netherlands with a diverse team of professionals representing 25 different nationalities. The team includes architects, interior designers, urban planners, landscape architects, and architectural technicians. Under the leadership of Francine Houben and a team of partners, Mecanoo embraces a design philosophy rooted in four principles: People, Place, Purpose, and Poetry. Each project is approached with a focus on crafting bespoke solutions that anticipate and adapt to change.
Sustainability is at the core of Mecanoo’s practice, aiming to create inspiring, authentic spaces that foster social relevance and benefit communities. The firm’s process emphasizes consultation, context, urban scale, and integrated sustainable design strategies, resulting in culturally significant, human-centric buildings that resonate with their surroundings.
Top Projects:
- National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts (Wei-Wu-Ying), Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- HUBB – Learning Environments, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Delft City Hall and Train Station, Delft, Netherlands
2. KAAN Architecten
KAAN Architecten is a Rotterdam-based architectural practice with satellite offices in SĂŁo Paulo and Paris. Led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, and Dikkie Scipio, the architecture firm fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration to inspire critical dialogue and innovation within its studio. KAAN Architecten combines practical and academic expertise in architecture, urbanism, and research on the built environment, leveraging these strengths to address complex design challenges.
The practice emphasizes the cross-pollination of ideas across projects and disciplines, ensuring a dynamic and thoughtful approach to its work. With an extensive portfolio spanning both private and public sectors, KAAN Architecten remains at the forefront of architectural evolution, adapting to the shifting needs and aspirations of contemporary society.
Top Projects:
- Bottière Chénaie, France, 2019
- CUBE, Netherlands, 2018
- Crematorium Siesegem, Belgium, 2018
3. Powerhouse Company
Powerhouse Company is an award-winning architectural firm headquartered in Rotterdam, with international studios in Oslo and Munich. Established in 2005, the practice began humbly, operating from kitchen tables in Rotterdam and Copenhagen, but has since grown into a multidisciplinary team of approximately 100 professionals. Over the years, the firm has garnered numerous accolades, including the Dutch Design Award, the Maaskant Prize, and the AM/NAI Award.
Led by its founder, Nanne de Ru, alongside partners Paul Stavert, Stefan Prins, Sander Apperlo (Munich), Johanne Borthne (Oslo), and Albert Takashi Richters, Powerhouse Company remains dedicated to creating meaningful spaces through the integration of form and function. While the firm has evolved significantly, its core commitment to thoughtful, innovative design continues to define its approach to architecture and urbanism.
Top Projects:
- Marga Klompé Building, Netherlands, 2023
- Villa MW, Netherlands, 2017
- Danone Headquarters, 2019
4. MVRDV
MVRDV is an internationally renowned architecture firm founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, and Nathalie de Vries. With offices in Rotterdam, Shanghai, Paris, Berlin, and New York, the architecture firm operates on a global scale, employing a research-driven and collaborative design process. By engaging clients, stakeholders, and experts across diverse disciplines, MVRDV creates bold, forward-thinking projects aimed at shaping a better future for cities and landscapes.
The architecture firm’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of work, including innovative mixed-use buildings, groundbreaking housing projects, adaptive reuse transformations, urban master plans, and visionary installations. MVRDV is celebrated for its experimental approach, blending functionality with creativity to redefine the built environment. Additionally, the architecture firm contributes to urban research and thought leadership through The Why Factory, an independent think tank exploring the future of urban living.
Top Projects:
- Tianjin Binhai Library, Tianjin, China
- Valley, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Tainan Spring, Tainan, Taiwan
5. OMA
OMA is a globally acclaimed urbanism and architecture firm led by eight partners: Rem Koolhaas, Reinier de Graaf, Ellen van Loon, Shohei Shigematsu, Iyad Alsaka, Chris van Duijn, Jason Long, and Managing Partner-Architect David Gianotten. With offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong, Doha, and Australia, the practice is involved in a diverse range of projects.
Current works include the renovation of Kaufhaus des Westens in Berlin and the Simone Veil Bridge in Bordeaux, alongside completed landmarks such as the Taipei Performing Arts Centre and Fondazione Prada in Milan.
OMA’s influence extends beyond architecture through its research and design studio, AMO, which applies architectural insights to various industries. AMO has collaborated with global brands like Universal Studios, Heineken, and Ikea, and has developed research and exhibitions for esteemed institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Venice Architecture Biennale.
This dual focus on design innovation and interdisciplinary research underscores OMA’s commitment to shaping the built environment and influencing culture at large.
Top Projects:
- Milstein Hall, Ithaca, New York
- 11th Street Bridge Park, Washington, DC
- Faena District, Miami, Florida
6. Atelier Kempe Thill
Since the 1990s, contemporary architecture has faced a growing paradox that permeates all levels of design and practice. On one side, architects are tasked with creating neutral, flexible buildings that can adapt to changing economic circumstances and accommodate various future uses. These structures prioritize functionality and adaptability, making them versatile across different programs.
On the other side, there is a demand for distinctive, highly specific architecture that captures attention through unique forms and spatial experiences, resonating strongly with users. Atelier Kempe Thill embraces this modern dichotomy as a foundational principle, navigating the tension between flexibility and identity to inform and inspire their work.
Top Projects:
- Rozemaai Housing, Antwerp, Belgium
- Youth Centre Amsterdam-Osdorp
- Winter Garden Housing Antwerp Nieuw Zuid, Antwerp, Belgium
7. MVSA Architects
MVSA is a globally recognized design and architecture firm dedicated to crafting innovative, sustainable, and functional architectural solutions that promote wellbeing. Their multidisciplinary team comprises exterior and interior architects, structural engineers, workspace consultants, project leaders, sustainability specialists, model makers, and product designers. Collaborating closely with clients, stakeholders, and end-users, MVSA delivers customized solutions and oversees projects from concept to completion. With expertise in modern contractual models like public-private partnerships and design-build agreements, MVSA ensures seamless project management, serving as a single point of contact to deliver results that align with their clients’ goals.
Top Projects:
- Rivierstaete Building, Netherland, 2018
- Rotterdam Central Station, Netherland, 2014
- Conservatorium The Set Hotels, Netherland, 2012
8. Paul de Ruiter Architects
Founded in 1994, Paul de Ruiter Architects is an Amsterdam-based architecture firm driven by the principles of innovation, sustainability, identity, and interaction. Their mission is to shape the future through groundbreaking architecture, turning the seemingly impossible into reality with creative and forward-thinking solutions.
They believe architects must transcend conventional boundaries, adopt a proactive approach, and engage all stakeholders from the outset to truly understand and address the client’s needs. The architecture firm operates from a former steel workshop, which they transformed into a dynamic business complex that accommodates their office alongside several other creative enterprises.
Top Projects:
- Lloyd Yard Rotterdam Block, Netherland, 2024
- Villa A, Netherlands, 2022
- Villa V, Netherlands, 2011
9. NEXT Architects
NEXT Architects, founded in 1999, is an internationally recognized architecture firm with offices in Amsterdam and Beijing. Known for its innovative approach at the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and landscape design, the architecture firm focuses on fostering connection—creating spaces that bring people together while addressing broader social challenges.
NEXT Architects thrives on curiosity and exploration, consistently pushing boundaries to develop visionary concepts that go beyond individual structures. Their work encompasses ideas such as the bicycle-friendly city, advanced water management strategies, and envisioning the future of the Netherlands.
Collaboration is central to their philosophy; they engage multidisciplinary teams and welcome input from diverse perspectives to enrich their designs. By translating bold concepts into solutions that are both surprising and logical, NEXT Architects delivers projects that are meaningful, impactful, and enduring.
Top Projects:
- Lucky Knot, Next Architects, 2016
- Service Station Verzetslaan, Wooden equilibrium, Netherlands,
- KBF Warehouse, Transparent dynamics, Netherlands,
10. Architecten Bureau Cepezed
Architecten Bureau Cepezed, founded in 1973, is an architecture firm renowned for its user-friendly and flexible designs that emphasize natural light. Guided by the principles of sustainability, efficiency, and aesthetics, the architecture firm creates distinctive structures that provide a pleasant and functional experience for their users.
Over the years, Cepezed has expanded its expertise to encompass development, construction coordination, and interior design through its specialized divisions: cepezedprojects, cepezedbouwteam, and cepezedinterieur. Their diverse portfolio spans residential, commercial, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as well as innovative building products, reflecting their commitment to delivering high-quality, holistic design solutions.
Top Projects:
- The Green House, Netherlands, 2018
- Building D(emountable), Netherlands, 2019
- Moreelse Bridge, Netherlands, 2016
Resources: aaup | architizer | archdaily | rethinking the future | archello