Amsterdam ($55/sqft, 7.2% vacancy) and Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) compete on different axes: Amsterdam on talent depth and Dublin on talent depth.
Amsterdam ($55/sqft, 7.2% vacancy) and Dublin ($70/sqft, 14.3% vacancy) compete on different axes: Amsterdam on talent depth and Dublin on talent depth.
| Metric | Amsterdam | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Region | EMEA | EMEA |
| Country | Netherlands | Ireland |
| Class A rent (USD/sqft/yr) | $55 | $70 |
| Class A rent (local) | 50 EUR | 65 EUR |
| Vacancy | 7.2% | 14.3% |
| Trend | rising | softening |
| Prime yield | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Premium flex / seat / month (USD) | $940 | $720 |
| Submarkets covered | 4 | 5 |
| Corporate tax | 25.8% | 12.5% |
| Metric | Amsterdam | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Typical term | 7 yrs | 10 yrs |
| Typical rent-free | 12 mos | 12 mos |
| Lease norms | Dutch leases run 5-10 years with break rights. Rent indexed to CPI annually. Servicekosten (operating expenses) billed separately. Bank guarantees of 3-6 months standard. | FRI (Full Repairing and Insuring) leases dominate. 10-year terms with tenant break options at year 5 standard. Free rent of 9-15 months and TI of €60-€110/sqm typical. |
| Tax note | Headline corporate tax 25.8% (19% on first €200k). Innovation Box and participation exemption regimes are meaningful. | 12.5% headline corporate tax on trading income; 25% on passive income. Knowledge Development Box (KDB) effective 6.25% rate available for qualifying IP income. R&D tax credit at 30% supplements. |
| Metric | Amsterdam | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Talent index (0–100) | 86 | 86 |
| Talent note | Strong English-fluent professional talent pool. Average all-in compensation indexes 86. | Deep tech, pharma, finance, and legal services talent. EU talent pool accessible without immigration friction. Strong feed from TCD, UCD, and the broader Irish university system. |
Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport is 7 minutes by direct train from Zuidas. Strong S-Bahn equivalent (Sprinter / Intercity) coverage.
Dublin: Dublin Bus, Luas tram (Red, Green Lines), DART rail. MetroLink under construction (target 2031). Dublin Airport is bus-served (no rail). The Docklands trophy core is Luas Red Line and DART-served.
Amsterdam is the cheaper Class A market on a USD basis.
Talent indices are tied at 86/100.
Dublin has the lower headline corporate tax (12.5% vs 25.8%). Local incentives can change the effective rate materially.
Amsterdam typical term is 7 years with 12 months free; Dublin runs 10 years with 12 months free.
Amsterdam: Schiphol Airport is 7 minutes by direct train from Zuidas. Strong S-Bahn equivalent (Sprinter / Intercity) coverage. Dublin: Dublin Bus, Luas tram (Red, Green Lines), DART rail. MetroLink under construction (target 2031). Dublin Airport is bus-served (no rail). The Docklands trophy core is Luas Red Line and DART-served.
Score Amsterdam, Dublin and up to two more markets side-by-side on Class A rent, vacancy, talent, corporate tax, and premium flex pricing — all in USD.
Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.