Amsterdam solidifies top position in 2024 ICCA Country and City Ranking

Updated 5 June 2025 at 13:57

The Netherlands has retained its 8th place worldwide in the ICCA Country and City Rankings, hosting 295 international association meetings in 2024. Amsterdam also rose to 17th place globally and 13th in Europe, delivering an impressive €230 million in economic impact. These results, published by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), reflect the country’s continued strength in attracting high-value events and affirm Amsterdam’s position as a premier destination for international conferences.

ICCA: benchmarking the global meetings industry

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is the leading global authority on international association meetings. Its annual rankings serve as a trusted benchmark for cities and countries competing in the international meetings sector.

The 2024 edition of ICCA’s GlobeWatch: Business Analytics report, unveiled at the 2025 IMEX Frankfurt trade show, includes expanded data on meeting size, subject sector, and economic impact, offering a comprehensive view of global meeting trends and performance.

Amsterdam's steady growth

Amsterdam, the capital and a key hub within the Dutch meetings landscape, continued its upward trajectory in 2024. The city rose to 17th place globally (up from 18th) and 13th in Europe, hosting 94 international meetings in 2024. This marks a steady upward trend from 73 meetings in 2022 and 84 in 2023.

Amsterdam also ranked 7th worldwide in economic returns, generating an estimated €230 million and welcoming nearly 58,000 delegates. This demonstrates the growing economic importance of mid-sized, high-impact meetings, a trend also highlighted in ICCA’s global analysis.

These rankings underscore the city’s ability to consistently attract and deliver high-quality international association meetings. With a unique blend of cultural heritage, progressive values, and a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, Amsterdam offers both the infrastructure and the mindset that global associations seek.

The Netherlands maintains strong global position

At the national level, the Netherlands held steady in 8th place globally, welcoming 295 qualifying international meetings in 2024. This matches the country’s rank from the previous year. This consistent performance underscores the country’s long-standing reputation as a preferred destination for knowledge exchange, international collaboration, and association engagement.

As the global meetings industry grows more strategic and sector-driven, the Netherlands continues to perform well by aligning events with its strong research institutions, progressive outlook, and knowledge economy.