Marketing & communication sector of the Northern Netherlands

The Northern Netherlands is home to a limited number of international marketers working in digital agencies and in-house marketing teams at companies with a global reach. Students are offered a range of options to pursue marketing and communications degrees at institutions such as the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and NHL Stenden.

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Three colleagues in the office discussing work

Marketing opportunities 💼

With a large volume of internationals studying marketing and communication in the North of the Netherlands, the job market is very competitive – especially for creative roles, where Dutch fluency and local market knowledge are often essential.

There are, however, occasional opportunities for marketing roles at marketing agencies serving international brands, such as Youwe, a full-service digital agency with clients like Booking.com and G-Star, which actively recruits international talent.

We started hiring internationals because we are an international company and we have several locations. English was already our native language and all documentation is written in English.

Tjitte Folkertsma Youwe Chief Customer Officer and Co-owner

In addition to agency roles, other opportunities lie in in-house marketing teams at companies with a global presence. Subhajit Sarkar, for instance, secured a digital marketing internship at EasyToys, an online retailer with a presence in several national markets.

I was looking for something that aligned to my long term goals, and that is when I found the digital marketing internship. I was like, yeah, why not! Let’s give it a try, since the company welcomed English-speaking applicants. I took a shot and yeah, it worked out!

Subhajit Sarkar Digital Marketer at EasyToys

Journalism 📰

The majority of media outlets operating in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe publish their news stories in Dutch. This makes it harder to break into this industry in the Netherlands, where such outlets cater to their audience’s language preferences. Some opportunities for international writers may occasionally be found in outlets such as the UKrant, HanzeMag and The Northern Times.

Studying marketing and communication in the North 🎓

At the University of Groningen, there are several undergraduate-level degrees in communications and marketing. The BA in Communication and Information Studies is taught in English and takes an intercultural perspective on communication. Graduates of the MSc programme in Marketing go on to become marketing strategists, commercial analysts, online marketing consultants, SEO and social media specialists.

The Marketing Association of the University of Groningen (MARUG) is an interdepartmental study association for students in the field of Communication Sciences, Economics, Business Administration and Psychology, acting as an intermediary between marketing theory and marketing practice.

At the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the International Communication Bachelor’s programme provides skills and knowledge needed for an international career in communication, including public relations, marketing, crisis communication, public affairs and business communication. The Graduation Project during the final semester of the Master programme allows students to conduct applied research through internship or collaboration with international organizations. Bachelor Marketing Management programme covers marketing fundamentals, operational management and customer behaviour.

Be proactive in creating conversations about what you want to do, especially at university. Your teachers likely have experience in the field or have contacts who do.

Charlotte Hardy Former marketing & events intern

At NHL Stenden, there are several programmes in English offered: from full-time undergraduate degree in Marketing Management to Masters in Content & Media Strategy. These degrees also feed into the highly rated International Business Bachelor’s degree.