King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has officially inaugurated the Dr. H.P. Heineken Centre, a state-of-the-art global research and development facility built by Heineken in Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands.
Spanning 8,800 sq.m. and located adjacent to Europe’s largest brewery, the new €45 million (£38.3m) centre will serve as a global hub for brewing innovation, sensory research, fermentation science, AI, and packaging development. It will also support Heineken’s portfolio of iconic brands including Heineken, Desperados, and Amstel.
The facility will house around 100 employees from 12 nationalities and will lead Heineken’s worldwide R&D network, which includes centres in Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam.
“With the opening of the Dr. H.P. Heineken Centre in Zoeterwoude, we are adding a chapter to our pioneering legacy that will shape the future of the category,” said Dolf van den Brink, chairman and CEO of Heineken.
“This centre enables us to innovate faster and smarter, helping us to create distinctive beers and drinks, improve our brewing processes and reduce our impact on the planet.”
Innovation meets tradition
Named after Dr Henry Pierre Heineken – the chemist and second-generation brewer who succeeded founder Gerard Adriaan Heineken – the centre is designed to bridge Heineken’s rich brewing legacy with modern science and evolving consumer trends.
As consumers increasingly opt for low- and no-alcohol choices, natural ingredients, and new flavours, the new facility is expected to accelerate the development of products such as the next generation of Heineken 0.0 or new premium lagers tailored for emerging drinking occasions.
“This centre connects our pioneering brewing legacy with the best of modern science,” added Hubert te Braake, Heineken’s director of research and development. “From next-gen fermentation techniques to improved packaging, we are innovating across the full brewing value chain.”
Dr. H.P. Heineken Centre in Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands
Strategically located near Delft University of Technology, the centre will foster collaboration with leading universities and suppliers to push forward sustainable brewing and fermentation research.
Professor Jack Pronk, head of biotechnology at Delft University, said: “This centre is not just a facility, it is a launchpad for innovation in sustainable brewing. At TU Delft, we are proud that our researchers and students will contribute to its mission.”
Erwin Nijsse from the Dutch ministry of economic affairs praised the investment as a boost to the country’s position in the global food technology sector, stating: “Heineken's investment … makes a valuable contribution to our knowledge economy through partnerships with both Dutch and globally leading universities.”
Built to the Netherlands' BENG energy standards and certified with an A++++ energy label, the facility exemplifies Heineken’s long-term sustainability goals under its ‘Brew a Better World 2030’ initiative.
