Green light for Eli Lilly’s facility in Katwijk

The project developed by RED Company is one of the largest foreign investments in the Netherlands ever.

Rotterdam, 2 October 2026 — Last night the municipal council of Katwijk, with a large majority of 88%, gave a definitive positive binding advice on the environmental permit for Eli Lilly’s new European production facility. This clears the way for the realisation of the project in the Zijlhoek-De Woerd area, adjacent to the Leiden Bio Science Park.

With an investment of €2.6 billion, this is one of the largest foreign corporate investments in the Netherlands of the past decades. The new production facility comprises approximately 80,000 m² of gross floor area and will be used for the production of medicines in tablet form, including for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other cardiometabolic conditions. RED Company initiated and made possible Lilly’s arrival at this location and submitted the permit application on 3 April 2026.

An extensive and careful permit process

The permit application was preceded by an exceptionally careful preparation. More than ten specialised consultancies carried out over 25 studies, covering traffic, noise, air quality, nature, nitrogen, water, soil, safety and health. RED Company is responsible for guiding the entire permit process. The design of the facility was drawn up in collaboration with Powerhouse Company.

RED Company developed the site and is responsible for the preparatory works on the grounds. These works are already under way. The start of the main construction is planned for the autumn of 2026.

Jobs, affordable housing and accessibility

Lilly’s arrival is expected to create around 500 permanent high-quality jobs and some 1,500 jobs during construction. The establishment has also led to broader agreements between the national government, the province of Zuid-Holland and the municipality of Katwijk on housing and accessibility.

In Valkenhorst, 5,600 homes will be built. As part of these agreements, the share of affordable homes rises from around 36% to at least 50%, roughly 750 additional affordable homes. The authorities involved are also jointly investing more than €100 million in the accessibility of the area, €72 million of which is contributed by the national government and the province of Zuid-Holland. The benefits of this development are therefore not only national and regional, but also very concrete for Katwijk.

Further development of Zijlhoek-De Woerd

Next to the Lilly facility, RED Company is developing a further 60,000 m² of high-quality life-sciences facilities and business space on the remaining land in Zijlhoek-De Woerd, as well as a substantial housing programme. The development of the area takes place in close cooperation with the municipality of Katwijk, the province of Zuid-Holland and the national government.

English translation of the Dutch press release of 2 October 2026.