The Netherlands' mainstream video games market, not taking into consideration the serious and casual games, is the sixth largest in Europe. In 2008, the Dutch market took up 3.95% of the entire European market in total sales and 4.19% in software sales.

A significant part of the Netherlands' gaming industry is in serious games, in which Dutch companies make a significant part of the worldwide industry.Lenting, T. (2019), Gamegeschiedenis van Nederland 1978-2018. Karel van Mander Academy: Arnhem.

In the Netherlands, an estimated 4,000 people are working in the games industry, at more than 600 companies. Over 45 of the companies are located in the Dutch Game Garden, a government subsidized organization with the aim of promoting and improving the video games industry in the Netherlands.

Consumer availability In 2007, the Dutch game industry surpassed the Dutch film industry for the first time in history. The growth of the games industry in the Netherlands is about 50% higher than any other industry in the Netherlands' region.

Despite the 2008 financial crisis, the situation of video gaming in the Netherlands is not all that bad. Both publishers and retailers report that the crisis has certainly not caused a drop in sales, while at times, sales have even improved.

History Although the first generation of video games were obtained by a select few, video games became first available during the second generation of video games, when a select few Dutch electronic stores carried the earlier systems. With the third generation, more stores started carrying video game related products, a trend that has been setting through ever since.

In the early '90s, independent video game stores first started to open in the Netherlands, with a fast expansion in the early 2000s. Since 2004, video games have gotten more important for general stores however, which has led to the closing of a number of game stores, and a merger of others.

Currently, there are about 1,200 stores, of which about 75 independent, in the Netherlands that carry video games and related items, and numerous online stores.

Distribution Distribution of games on physical media in the Netherlands is usually done by publishers or major distributors such as Micromedia BV in Nijmegen that cover the entire Benelux, although most of the publishers' offices are located in the Netherlands, and only a few have offices in Belgium. Since not every publisher has a separate office for the Benelux, certain publishers take care of multiple labels, including those of other publishers.

The Netherlands also has several publishers for games through digital distribution, such as via web portals and mobile platforms like the App Store and Google Play.

Netherlands in video games

The Netherlands is not often used as a setting for video games, other than certain Dutch games such as A2 Racer, AmsterDoom (NL wiki) and Efteling Tycoon. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was planned to be a featured city in The Getaway 3, before its development was cancelled. The first internationally successful game to use the Netherlands as a setting is Hitman: Codename 47, which has a level set in Rotterdam. Resistance: Retribution also featured a level in Rotterdam. During World War II, the Netherlands was the location of Operation Market Garden, a much-used setting for World War II games. The game Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway focusses entirely on Operation Market Garden and accurately depicts the Dutch towns and landscape along the operation's route.

In games such as the FIFA football games and Olympic video games, teams or players from the Netherlands are featured. The TT Circuit Assen is by fans considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling, with the Dutch TT being one of the biggest events in motorbike racing. As such, the track is featured in many of the motorcycling racing games. Circuit Park Zandvoort is a Formula One racing track. The track has been featured in its old Formula One-layout in the game Grand Prix Legends, and more recently in its current layout in TOCA Race Driver, TOCA Race Driver 2, Race 07 and rFactor 2.

Recently Mario Kart Tour added an Amsterdam tour track to its roster.

Video game development

Game developers from the Netherlands Company Location Founded Type Engine Software Doetinchem 1991 entertainment, handheld, mobile games. Co-dev, porting. Witan Entertainment Haarlem 1992 entertainment, casual, serious, mobile games MAD Multimedia Groningen 1996 serious games Elements Interactive Almere 1996 mobile games, software and websites IJsfontein Amsterdam 1997 serious games Triumph Studios Delft 1997 core games GamePoint B.V. The Hague 1998 online casino games Khaeon The Hague 1999 core games Nixxes Software Utrecht 1999 video game conversions and software RANJ Rotterdam 1999 serious games Behaviour Rotterdam Rotterdam 2000 core games, co-dev, porting. Ex-Codeglue (2000–2023). Bright Alley Utrecht 2000 serious games and gamification E-Semble bv Delft 2000 serious games Guerrilla Games Amsterdam 2000 core games NotTheFly Mobile Entertainment Venlo 2000 mobile games Little Chicken Game Company B.V. Amsterdam 2001 core & mobile games Monkeybizniz Utrecht 2001 serious games Grendel Games Leeuwarden 2002 core- and serious games Pixel Pixies Leeuwarden 2002 serious games Trade Games International The Hague 2002 core games VSTEP Rotterdam 2002 serious games Eximion Eindhoven 2003 core- and casual games, game distributor Team6 Game Studios Assen 2003 core games CrazyFoot Gamestudio The Hague 2004 core games Gamebasics Studio Zoetermeer 2004 mobile games Mindgame Amsterdam 2004 serious games Spill Group Utrecht 2004 casual games (since 2008 known as Spil Games) Xform Utrecht 2004 browser based 3D games Paladin Studios The Hague 2005 mobile games Soepel Amsterdam 2005 casual and serious games Sticky Studios Utrecht 2005 serious and mobile games Triangle Studios Leeuwarden 2005 core and mobile games Tygron The Hague 2005 serious games Virtual Racing Industries B.V. Heemstede 2005 real-life RC events, serious games BlewScreen Tilburg 2006 casual and serious games Coin-Op Interactive Rotterdam 2006 video game design Blender Institute Amsterdam 2007 Open content FourceLabs Utrecht 2007 serious games Weber Sites & Games BV Arnhem 2007 casual, mobile games ZC Funcraft Nijmegen 2007 core games Flavour Amsterdam 2008 serious games OneBigGame Amsterdam 2008 core and casual games Play like a Champion Amsterdam 2008 sports games (since 2017 known as Socios Sports) Rough Cookie Amsterdam 2008 mobile and handheld games WeirdBeard Amsterdam 2008 web games M2H Alkmaar 2009 mobile, casual and core games DoubleDutch Games Utrecht 2010 indie games GamoVation Zwolle 2010 mobile and casual games Rumble Spark Games Zwolle 2010 mobile games. Ex-Gazingy Interactive till 2023. Rising Step IJsselstein 2010 core games Stolen Couch Games Utrecht 2010 core games Virtual Play Utrecht 2010 mobile, core and serious games Game Oven Utrecht 2011 mobile, experimental games Jaywalkers Interactive Randstad 2011 core and VR games Jolly Jellyfish Groningen 2011 promotional games Ludomotion Amsterdam 2011 indie games RageSquid Utrecht (HQ)Tilburg 2011 core games Team Reptile Hilversum 2011 core games 8D Games Leeuwarden 2012 serious games Black Cube Games Amstelveen 2012 core games Blue Giraffe Eindhoven 2012 casual, mobile games Critical Bit Leeuwarden 2012 core and serious games Jagaco Games Zoetermeer 2012 casual, mobile games Mimicry Games Leusden 2012 core and casual games, software Modoka Studios Entertainment Zwolle 2012 mobile and casual games Sparkling Society Delft 2012 casual, mobile games Trigames Delft 2012 casual, mobile games Wispfire Utrecht 2012 casual and serious games 2Monkeys Deventer 2013 casual, puzzle, mobile games BitBunch Rotterdam 2013 Simulation and Game-engine Technology BlackMill Games Heiloo 2013 core games Dutch Game Studio Woerden 2013 mobile games KeokeN Interactive Hoofddorp 2013 core games Kings Lane Amsterdam 2013 casual, mobile games Maata Games Arnhem 2013 browser games, mobile games Studio Bleep Groningen 2013 serious games, augmented reality Twirlbound Breda 2013 core games Vanilla Eindhoven 2013 mobile games ChimpWorks Eindhoven 2014 mobile games Knuist & Perzik Veenendaal 2014 core games Codeer Studio Netherlands 2015 indie games Dual Cortex Gaming Amsterdam 2015 mobile games Force Field Amsterdam 2015 core and casual games Hulan Studio Eindhoven 2015 serious games Rusty Lake Amsterdam 2015 indie games Stitch Heads Entertainment Breda 2015 core games TurtleBlaze The Hague 2015 core and casual games Studio 397 Apeldoorn 2016 racing sims TRAGsoft Zevenaar 2016 core games Grumpy Owl Games Utrecht 2017 core games, board game adaptations, & edutainment Hypersome Games Den Bosch 2017 VR games Wooden Shoes Games Rotterdam 2017 casual games Yellowcake Games Utrecht 2017 core games BadDice Heerlen 2018 casual games Blast Zero Rotterdam 2018 Ex-Tanuki Creative Studio (2018–2023). Ex-publisher. Mystery City Games BV Amsterdam 2018 outdoor events, online team-builders, core games Twin Wasp Sims Amersfoort 2018 Serious games, simulation, 3rd party Undreamed Games Amsterdam 2018 indie games Beyond All Reason team Netherlands 2019 core games, open-source Game Tailors Delft 2019 serious games, gamification Kami Games Apeldoorn 2019 indie games Kessels game studio Beesel 2019 small indie games Sparrow Night Rotterdam 2019 core games. Ex-Studio Nul Games. Bonte Avond Utrecht 2020 indie games Eerie Guest Studios Hilversum 2020 core games Roost Games Utrecht 2020 indie games Thunderoak Interactive Rijswijk 2021 core games Mystic ERA games Harderwijk 2022 indie games OnRush Studio Amsterdam 2022 core games Snail Bite Amsterdam 2022 core games Square Glade Games Groningen 2022 core games Enchanted Works Utrecht 2022 Indie Games Studio Mantasaur Utrecht 2022 Indie Games Konafa Games B.V. Amsterdam 2023 indie games Rangatang Utrecht 2023 Indie games. Founded by ex-Ronimo Games staff. Hilkojj Interactive Amersfoort 2024 Simulation & core games

Defunct game developers Company Founded Ended Type  Reason for ending development Courbois Software 1982 2012 core & casual games dissolved The Bytebusters 1983 1988 core & casual games filed for bankruptcy in 1988 Radarsoft 1984 1987 core & casual games Radarsoft continues without gaming products Team Hoi 1988 1998 core & casual games dissolved. Ex-"SoftEyes" / "Softeyes Design" (1990–1994). ANMA 1989 1993 core & casual games dissolved Parallax 1989 2000 core & casual games dissolved Ultra Force 1989 1993 moved to computer software development The Vision Factory 1992 2002 casual games filed for bankruptcy in January 2002 Digital Infinity 1995 2000 casual games merged into Lost Boys Games DIMA/Creative Media 1995 1997 dissolved Orange Games 1995 2000 core, casual and mobile games merged into Lost Boys Games White Bear 1998 2011 filed for bankruptcy in December 2011 Lost Boys Games 2000 2003 core & casual games taken over and renamed Guerrilla Games DarXabre 2001 2011 inactive since 2011 Streamline Studios 2001 2009 filed for bankruptcy in November 2009 Playlogic Entertainment 2002 2010 core games filed for bankruptcy in July 2010 and again in December 2014 Coded Illusions 2004 2008 filed for bankruptcy September 2008 Spellborn Works 2004 2009 filed for bankruptcy in June 2009 W!Games 2005 2016 core & casual games merged as Vanguard Games into Force Field in April 2016 Ronimo Games 2007 2023 core games filed for bankruptcy in August 2023 Virtual Fairground 2008 2011 filed for bankruptcy in April 2011 Vlambeer 2010 2020 dissolved Ostrich Banditos 2012 2015 core games dissolved/abandoned in 2015 Through Games 2014 2017 core game likely inactive in Jan 2017 as co-founder became independent contractor Wolfdog Interactive 2014 2023 VR games closed Tanuki Creative Studio 2018 2023 merged into Blast Zero

Game publishers from the Netherlands