The Top 250 Scale-ups 2017 (Top 250 Groeibedrijven 2017) is based on our ScaleUp Dashboard, which is an annual research into Dutch scale-ups conducted by our Academic Director and Professor Corporate Entrepreneurship at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Prof. dr. Justin Jansen:
“The ScaleUp Dashboard is the first list that truly takes into account and measures all companies in the Netherlands with more than 10 FTE. There are more lists about scale-ups available, but those give limited insights because companies have to register themselves or the lists are focused on specific sectors. Insight in which companies truly belong to the Top of scale-ups is missing and that is what we hope to achieve by creating and launching this Top 250 Scale-ups (Top 250 Groeibedrijven) – of over 3000 scale-ups – in the Netherlands.”
2017 is the first year that the Top 250 Scale-ups (Top 250 Groeibedrijven) is published and it is launched together with nlgroeit in presence of Queen Máxima on January 23rd, 2017.
“It never was a goal in itself to grow this much, but it is a beautiful reward for the brand Rituals and the passionate people that work for it 24/7. At this moment in time we are opening 2 to 3 stores every week globally and the Rituals family grows in high speed.” – CEO Raymond Cloosterman of Rituals regarding 1st place in Top 250 Scale-ups 2017. Photo credits: Daniel Verkijk.
Discover Scale-ups In Your Region Or Sector
The Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship also conducts research on scale-ups on a regional level, on commission for organizations such as the Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (BOM), Innovation Quarter (IQ) and the city of Rotterdam. The insights help them discover how many scale-ups their region has and how to best support and promote their growth, thereby creating new jobs in the regional economy.
Also for non-governmental and commercial organisations, our database and studies can be adapted to region or sector, reveiling all companies with a reliable 3-year top growth record.
Criteria Top 250 Scale-ups 2017
Companies are supposed to be economically active on January 1st, 2012 and needed to have a minimum of 10 FTE and/or to have made €5 million in revenue. In three consecutive years the company needs to grow with a minimum of 20% each year in revenue and/or FTE.
The Top 250 realized the most growth over the period. The Top 10 is based on the nett job creation in this period.
Top 10
Based on nett job creation 2012-2016.

1. Rituals
CEO and founder: Raymond Cloosterman; Year of establishment: 2000; No. new jobs created: 1,097; Location: Amsterdam. Originated from the conviction that with little effort some extra luck can be created, Rituals still is one of the most successful cosmetics brands in the Netherlands. Founder and CEO Raymond Cloosterman (alumnus Erasmus University Rotterdam) has with his company expanded abroad and hence has grown to more than 400 stores worldwide in fifteen years. This internationalisation has boosted the creation of new fulltime jobs and makes Rituals a true no. 1 in the Top 250 Scale-ups 2017.

2. Royal Reesink
CEO: Gerrit van der Scheer; Year of establishment: 1786; No. new jobs created: 906; Location: Apeldoorn. Royal Reesink was originally founded as a forge, but soon after they were trading in iron, ironware and coals. Nowadays it is a wholesale business in a.o. agriculture equipment, hand tools, household appliances and garden furniture. In recent years the company has done several major acquisitions that make Royal Reesink a dominant player in the European market, and that caused rapid growth for the company and significant job creation.

3. Coolblue
CEO and founder: Pieter Zwart; Year of establishment: 1999; No. new jobs created: 456; Location: Rotterdam. Of course Coolblue and founder Pieter Zwart (alumnus Erasmus University Rotterdam) cannot miss in this Top 250 Scale-ups 2017! At the moment of writing Coolblue already has more than 300 websites and five brick and mortar stores. Besides, in 2015 the company opened a 22,000 m2 warehouse in Tilburg (FYI approximately the size of five soccer fields). Coolblue expects to create many more jobs in the coming years, but for now the company reached a great 3rd place in this list.

4. Takeaway.com
CEO and founder: Jitse Groen; Year of establishment: 2000; No. new jobs created: 273; Location: Amsterdam. The idea of Takeaway.com – in the Netherlands known as Thuisbezorgd.nl – came into existence during a party in a small village as ordering food in a rural area almost seemed impossible. Nowadays the company has grown to the international market leader in online food delivery and active in 10 countries. The platform connects restaurants to hungry consumers and facilitates the monetary transaction.

5. Optiver
CEO: Paul Hilgers; Year of establishment: 1986; No. new jobs created: 266; Location: Amsterdam. The name Optiver comes from the fitting description Option Trader (in Dutch: Optie Verhandelaar). The company trades in financial derivatives and combines this with high-end technology. With their innovative trading system the company grew to one of the three biggest derivatives traders of Amsterdam and currently does business all over the world.

6. Adyen
CEO and founder: Pieter van der Does; Year of establishment: 2006; No. new jobs created: 262; Location: Amsterdam. In 2006 payment technicians Pieter van der Does and Arnout Schuijff bundled their powers and founded Adyen. Fun fact: Adyen means “Start over again” in Surinamese. The goal? Grabbing the chance to change the rapidly changing financial transactions. Ever since the company entered a rapid of growth. In 2009 the company found their first big customer: Groupon. Soon after the company Adyen developed from startup to internationally operating company. In 2013 the Adyen platform dealt with over $14 billion, in 2014 $25 billion and in 2015 $50 billion!

7. Van Ameyde
CEO: Piet Middelkoop; Year of establishment: 1945; No. new jobs created: 195; Location: Rijswijk. Imagine damaging your car, or having your home burgled, and then being faced with all the paperwork and having to make appointments with loss adjusters? Thank goodness not anymore! Thanks to ‘Van Ameyde’ much of this can easily dealt with online via Van Ameyde’s claims management platform and its integrated IT solutions. The company is specialized in claims management and is a front runner in the area of outsourcing insurance claims. Next to this, the company offers Big Data insights and a service package ranging from valuation of assets to outsourcing claims processes; that is what we call a company in transition!

8. Conclusion FIT
CEO and founder: Murat Kiran; Year of establishment: 1991; No. new jobs created: 176; Location: Utrecht. As part of business service company Conclusion, Conclusion FIT offers an all-in-one solution for many ICT challenges. It is not a regular ICT company and that can be seen from the customer base; ranging from ProRail to foundation KWF Kankerbestrijding. With the slogan ‘Business done differently’ Conclusion FIT distinguishes itself by embedding ICT in the core business of organisations with as goal to make a difference in society, for which continuity and innovation are conditions for progress.

9. Group of Butchers
CEO and founder: Nick Visser; Year of establishment: 1997 (Dutch Grill Specialists); No. new jobs created: 160; Location: Tilburg. In 2012 the company was taken over by Nordian, former private equity branch of Rabobank, after which the revenue rapidly increased. In 2015 the company changed their name to ‘Group of Butchers’ and tries to position itself as market leader in fresh meat products. The enthusiastic men describe themselves as a group of butchers that work with meat, but don’t just make regular meat products. With their meat products scan, bake-off products and several trainings in ‘hospitality at the Fresh Department’, Group of Butchers is able to create a unique concept.

10. Fondel
CEO: Austin van ‘t Wout; Year of establishment: 1962 (Grondmet B.V.); No. new jobs created: 134; Location: Rotterdam. In 1962 Willem van ‘t Wout founded his first company: Grondmet B.V.. In 2002 all of the companies in the holding merged to ‘Fondel’. As international supplier Fondel supplies raw materials to the steel, aluminium and precious metals industry. Next to this, the company focuses on sustainable entrepreneurship by applying innovative technologies to reusing metals and to tapping into sustainable energy sources. With over 50 years of experience this company cannot be forgotten anymore in the metals industry!
Top 11-250
In alphabetical order.
247TailorSteel
4Kids
AB/Ovo Media
Action
Aethon Groep
Aeves Groep
AFA Dispensing Group
AFAS Software
Alcadis
Allekabels.nl
ALMED assembling
Amici IT
Ampelmann Operations
Applied Micro Electronics
AWL-Techniek
Axell
Azerty
Bartosz ICT
Bax-shop.nl
Becis
Belsimpel.nl
BESLIST.NL
Between
Biesheuvel Groep
BNS Fulfillment
Body & Fit Sportsnutrition
Bonque
Booking.com
Bouwgroep Dijksma Draisma
Brand New Day
Brandfield
Burando
Calco Group
CAPTER Nijmegen
Catawiki
Central Point International
Centralparking.nl
Certin Incasso
Clustervision
Concreet Hygiene
Connect SB
Crux Engineering
Crystal ICT
CSU
CTOUCH Europe
D & A Medical Group
Daan
Dakla
Das Automotive Services
Data Management Professionals
De Eekhoorn Woodworkings
De Nieuwe Zaak eCommerce
Decom Technology People
Dehaco
DHW Service
Driessen
DTC Media Online
Dutch Tecsource
Dutchict
Duvak Automatisering
DynaGroup
Elastic
EnergieWerken
Engagement Factory
Eteck Energie Bedrijven
ETF Machinefabriek
Eurofiber
Event Rent
ExperTcare
Fashion Linq
Feburo Global Meat
Ferdinand Zandbergen
Fintrex
First Consulting
First Impression
FittinQ
Flexspecialisen
Flexxcompany
Flinders
Forever Direct
FRISS | fraud, risk & compliance
Fruity Line
Future Communication Consultants
FysioSupplies
GlobalOrange
Greenhouse Group
Group9
Guidion Nederland
HBL Online
Health2Work
Helion IT
Heliview Professional Marketing Services
Hiltermann Lease Groep
HOBIJ
Hoffelijk
Humares
Ilionix Group
In Person Uitzendbureau
Infotheek Groep
International Plywood
ISM eCompany
IT Staffing Groep
Itaq
ITEQ Works
IT-Ernity Internet Services
J.M. De Jong Duke Automatenfabriek
Jibes
Joost Zorgt Nederland
Kees Smit Tuinmeubelen
Kien Facility Management
Knipidee International
Koppert Cress
Lagerwey Group
Leapp Group International
Lindenhaeghe Opleidingen
Logistic Force
Machinefabriek Houdijk
Mapscape
Matthijs
McCoy & Partners
Metrological Media Innovations
MKB Schoon!
Motion10
Moving Spirits International
MP Objects
Nature’s Pride
Nauta Sign
NFP Groep
Nivvo
NLcom
Nmbrs
Novicare
Numidia
Oceanco
Oliver IT
OMS Solutions
One Uitzendbureau
Onlinepets
Open Line
Orangeworks Groep
Otolift Trapliften
Otravo
OTTO Work Force
Oxyma Groep
P4people HRM Services
Pal-V
Partners Network
Pay for People
Payper
Please Payroll
Plinten & Profielen Centrale
Polyplastic Groep
Probo Sign
Prowise
Qargo Packers
Quality Produce International (Q.P.I.)
Queueup
Quion Groep
Quooker
RAXTAR
Re-on
RES
Resin
REV’IT Sport International
Rijk Zwaan
Rochewood Insurance & Banking
Rogam
Rolldock Shipping
Rotom Europe
Rotterdam World Gateway
RSG Finance
Samen in de Zorg
Scholt Energy
Schotgroep
SecureLink Nederland
SeeCubic
Seven Stars ICT Group
Shapeways
SIRE Group
Skydreams
Skylift
Snack Connection
SnelStart Software
Social Deal
Soo Media
Sparked Services
Spyx Projecten
Sqills Projects
Staffing Associates
STAN Partners
Steens Consultants
Stumass
Talent&Pro Nederland
Talenter
TechAccess
TeKa Groep
Teleena
Temporary Works Design
TenICT
The Employment Group
The Hyve
The Jekill & Hyde Company
TOBROCO Machines
TransIP
Triple IT
Tromp Group
Ultimaker
Unica Groep
Valveco – the valve company –
Van den Broek Sneltransport
Van Dijck Groenteproducties
Van Domburg Partners
Van Iperen International
Van Kooten Tuin en Buiten Leven
VCSW
Verhoef Select Drive
Vermaat Groep
Vitens-Evides International
Voiceworks
VORM
Voys
VSA
WEBB Traders
Webhelp Nederland
Wecovi
WePayPeople
WeTransfer
WorkFast
Worldmeetings
WVH Gevelprojecten
Xendo
YER Talent
YMOR E-Services
YoungCapital
Your Professionals
Youwe Commerce
Zevij-Necomij
Zonneplan
Zorgeloosch
Zuiver Media