Gross Twente Happiness remains high: why this is good news for every entrepreneur in Twente

Broad prosperity forms the foundation of a strong entrepreneurial climate. Gross Twente Happiness looks beyond work or income. It reflects how people experience life here: health, safety, education, job satisfaction, social cohesion, housing satisfaction, and work-life balance. In short, all the conditions for a resilient labor market and a healthy business climate. And on these conditions, Twente scores well above average.

a region where employees are healthy, loyal, and engaged

For employers, this is more than a statistic. A region with high broad prosperity means:

• less staff turnover

• higher engagement

• lower absenteeism

• productive teams

• attractive employer branding

In a tight labor market, this is not a luxury — it is a necessity.

income is rising in twente

Where income growth has stagnated nationally, Twente is showing improvement. This underlines two things:

• the regional economy is healthy and dynamic

• there is room for growth, innovation, and investment

For entrepreneurs who want to scale or attract new talent, this is an important signal.

collaboration as a growth engine: the twente approach works

Twente companies, knowledge institutions, and government have been working closely together for years. And it works: a wide range of talent programs, innovation clusters, housing and livability initiatives, and social impact projects have been launched. The example of the Heracles Foundation shows how social engagement leads to greater health, connection, and talent development. Companies that invest in their environment gain resilience in return. Ank Bijleveld, chair of Twente Board, puts it clearly: “Broad prosperity only emerges through collaboration between entrepreneurs, education, and government.”

regional differences create opportunities for entrepreneurs

The study shows that rural municipalities such as Dinkelland, Tubbergen, Wierden, and Hof van Twente score highest in happiness. The larger cities of Enschede, Hengelo, and Almelo have declined slightly, but still score higher than urban areas elsewhere in the Netherlands.

For businesses, this means:

• space and tranquility for companies looking to expand

• urban hotspots for innovation and talent

• opportunities to contribute to quality of life through good employment practices

why gross twente happiness can strengthen your business strategy

More and more Twente organizations are placing broad prosperity on their strategic agenda. Why? Because well-being, growth, and the economy are not opposites. In Twente, we see the opposite: they reinforce each other.

For employers, this means in concrete terms:

• include broad prosperity in HR and employer policies

• link business growth to regional quality of life

• invest in vitality, development, and job satisfaction

• contribute to projects that strengthen Twente

Gross Twente Happiness is not a yardstick; it is a compass. Together, companies and organizations are building a resilient entrepreneurial climate in Twente. The new figures also show that Twente is a region where people enjoy living, learning, and working. That is good news for business. Because strong people build strong companies — and together they create a region with a future.