ASML wants to expand its facilities and is considering moving abroad. The Dutch government is working on a “master plan” to keep ASML in the Netherlands.

Today, ASML’s headquarters and production facilities are located in the Dutch municipality of Veldhoven, near Eindhoven. However, there is no guarantee that this will remain the case. ASML wants to expand and the EUV machine manufacturer is making it increasingly clear that it is not ruling out moving abroad. The Dutch government wants nothing to do with this: under the code name “Operation Beethoven” it is working on a plan to convince ASML to stay in the Netherlands, writes De Telegraaf.

Moving to France

Part of the conflict is a proposal recently passed by the Dutch Chamber to phase out tax benefits for expats. ASML saw this as a slap in the face because the company relies largely on foreign employees: Forty percent of the employees in Veldhoven are not Dutch nationals. This proposal, combined with the lack of housing to accommodate these foreign employees, is the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back for ASML.

“If we can’t get these people here, let’s go somewhere we can grow. Be careful because you will soon get exactly what you ask for,” CEO Peter Wennink issued a stark warning to the government earlier this year. ASML would consider moving to France. Unlike the Netherlands, the French government is pumping millions of euros into building the national chip industry and is not making a big deal about recruiting foreign workers.

Operation Beethoven

ASML’s relocation plans are raising alarm bells in The Hague. A plan called “Operation Beethoven” is said to have been drawn up to keep ASML in the Netherlands. The government wants to listen to the demands of the ASML and be ready to give in to them as far as possible.

None other than the outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) is personally involved in the matter. Yesterday he invited Wennink for coffee. Wennink said of that conversation that he was glad he was being listened to, but that there was still “a gap between what the business community is doing and what politicians think is necessary,” according to ANP. The wrinkles have not yet been completely ironed out.

Economic and strategic importance

The Netherlands cannot economically afford to let ASML withdraw. ASML is one of the largest multinational corporations based in the Netherlands. In the recent past, Shell and Unilever in our northern neighbors have also moved their headquarters from the Netherlands. If ASML were to leave now, it would be an economic downturn.

At the same time, France will be only too happy that ASML is coming. The company is of invaluable strategic importance not only for the Netherlands, but also for global chip production. ASML is one of the few companies in the world that produces EUV machines. Because of this special position, the company, like the Belgian Imec, is more involved in a geopolitical tug of war than it would like. ASML has no longer been allowed to deliver machines to China since 2024: a measure with which the company is not very happy. The US government even wants to extend these restrictions to repair and maintenance of machines sold.