ASML Begins Construction on New Eindhoven Campus to House 20,000 Workers
Eindhoven, Tuesday 8 September 2026
ASML has broken ground on a major new campus in Eindhoven, securing its future in the Netherlands and eventually creating up to 20,000 jobs to meet surging global chip demand.
A Phased Expansion to Meet Surging Global Demand
On Tuesday, 8 September 2026, Dutch lithography giant ASML officially celebrated the commencement of construction for its massive new industrial campus at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) North in Eindhoven [1][3][4]. This milestone event, attended by Prime Minister Rob Jetten, former Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Eindhoven Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem, marks a decisive step in the semiconductor manufacturer’s efforts to scale up its production capabilities [1][3][4]. The ambitious development is projected to eventually encompass 350,000 square metres and accommodate up to 20,000 additional workplaces, effectively doubling ASML’s workforce footprint within the Netherlands [1][2][3].
Overcoming Local Bottlenecks and Project Beethoven
Securing this expansion within the Netherlands required a coordinated effort between corporate leadership and Dutch authorities [3]. Following warnings from ASML that it might look abroad if the local business climate did not improve, the Dutch government launched “Project Beethoven” in 2024, pledging €2.5 billion to enhance regional infrastructure, housing, roads, and the electrical grid [1][3]. Local administrative hurdles were cleared earlier in 2026; the Eindhoven city council approved the zoning plan and local permits in March 2026, which was quickly followed by the province of Noord-Brabant granting a rare nitrogen permit on 11 March 2026 after ASML demonstrated the public importance of the project and committed to natural compensation [1][4].
Securing European Strategic Autonomy in the Semiconductor Value Chain
The expansion of ASML is a critical pillar for European strategic autonomy, a topic highlighted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the region on 31 August 2026 to discuss European chip supply chains and artificial intelligence with Prime Minister Jetten [4]. As the global semiconductor market shifts, European policymakers are eager to secure local supply chains [GPT]. ASML occupies a unique monopoly as the sole provider of advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, making its operational capacity vital to global chipmakers [3][GPT]. Currently, the company’s revenue is heavily concentrated in Asia, with China, Taiwan, and South Korea accounting for a combined 79.6% of its global sales, compared to just 1.6% for the EMEA region and 0.1% for its home market in the Netherlands [5].