Going Dutch – Our new Netherlands office

We have opened a brand new office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands! This is our first office outside of the UK, and it’s safe to say we are excited about it 🔥.

Our Executive Creative Director, Craig Roderick, shares why the Netherlands is the place to be for creativity.

Inspiration in the Netherlands

We just had to be in the Netherlands—it felt like fate. Not only do our three biggest clients have their HQs there, but our head of strategy has lived there for almost a decade. It also felt like a portal (garishly styled by EasyJet) to the rest of Europe. There’s an ever-flowing dyke of epic creative talent, and it seems the collective consciousness fizzes with a free-thinking, just-do-it attitude. Take a walk around one of its cities and be inspired by the architecture, the thriving galleries, and the list of groundbreaking businesses (Uber, Netflix, Tesla, and, of course, Nike) that call the Netherlands thuis (home). You can feel the Dutch truly embrace creativity.

Since my early days in advertising, flicking through page after page of award winners, I was in awe of the Dutch agency, Kessels Kramer – the audacity and humour of their ads. That communication style has stayed with me all these years and has constantly reminded me that our job should be anarchic, often irreverent and strive for impact and originality.  Kessels Kramer, Wieden & Kennedy and DDB Amsterdam have churned out some of the most iconic campaigns ever. It seemed that a tradition that champions artistic movements and open discourse is where bold ideas can really blossom.

Sustainable creativity

The Netherlands also shines in its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility—values at the heart of Catch a Fire. It didn’t sit too well with us that we were gathering so many air miles, so now our Art directors and Producers are already primed and close at hand. And let’s not forget the fresh wave of startups and amazing production companies bursting onto the scene. Their collaborative spirit fuels experimentation and innovation, ensuring the Dutch creative industry stays at the forefront of global trends. 

Ultimately, the Netherlands is kicking ass with its creativity and artistic exploration and continues to shape the future of the industry – and now we’re more than happy to say Catch a Fire is all-in and ready to fan the very orange flames.

Dutch creativity we love

KesselsKramer for Hans Brinker Budget Hotels

DDB Tribal Amsterdam for Centraal Beheer

Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam for Nike

You can find out more reasons why we went Dutch.

Are you in the Netherlands and looking to work with a strategic creative agency that will help you create positive change?

Then drop us a message: toby@catchafireagency.com | +44 (0) 7880 696 385