Katwijk to decide on Eli Lilly factory today
Council weighs a €2.6 billion investment against concerns over liveability, traffic and oversight.
There is news on this story (Friday, 2 October 2026, 14:03): Katwijk gives green light to Eli Lilly plant
Katwijk municipal council is discussing today the possible arrival of a large Eli Lilly pharmaceutical plant. First, the council will decide whether a referendum request can proceed; it may then consider the binding advice on the permit.
Eli Lilly wants to build a new production facility in the Zijlhoek-De Woerd area. The US company has announced an investment of €2.6 billion. According to Lilly, the plant could create around 500 direct jobs and approximately 1,500 additional jobs during construction.
The site is by Valkenburgse Meer, near Valkenburg and the new Valkenhorst residential area. The plans include production buildings, laboratories, offices and logistics facilities. Lilly wants to produce medicines there for cardiometabolic diseases, neurology, oncology and immunology, among other areas.
The municipality has prepared an environmental permit and commissioned independent studies into safety, the shores of Valkenburgse Meer, and the social costs and benefits, among other matters. Residents, businesses and organisations submitted more than 800 formal responses.
The objections mainly concern the scale of the complex, the impact on the landscape and recreation, traffic pressure, water and energy use, and whether oversight has been adequately arranged. The municipality says the responses have led to additional conditions, including a more extensive planting plan, a stricter lighting plan and research into sightlines.
A majority of the municipal council previously expressed a positive or positively critical view of the project. At the same time, there is debate about the cost of oversight. The municipality wants to set up an implementation organisation in which various competent authorities will work together. There is to be a single point of contact for residents.
On 21 September, residents submitted a request for a referendum. At least 300 declarations of support were required; according to the municipality, that threshold was met. The referendum committee considers the request admissible, but points out that a referendum would probably only be able to have an impact after the statutory permit period had ended.
If the council allows the referendum initiative to proceed, the substantive decision on the binding advice will be postponed. If the request does not proceed, the council can vote on the advice today. According to the municipal timetable, the executive board will decide on the permit application on 2 October. A positive decision by the council does not mean that Lilly can start production immediately: separate permits will still be required later.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Eli Lilly wants to build a factory in Zijlhoek-De Woerd near Katwijk.
- The investment is estimated at €2.6 billion.
- The municipal council is considering a referendum request today and possibly a binding advice.
- More than 800 formal responses have been submitted.
- Additional permits will be required later for production.
Left
Arguments A project of this scale should proceed only if nature, water, traffic and health are demonstrably protected. Economic growth does not justify expedited procedures or an oversight model that has to be assembled afterwards.
Values Liveability, precaution and public control.
Consequences Stricter conditions could delay construction or make it more expensive, but would reduce social risks and increase local trust.
Centre
Arguments The factory could be economically valuable, but only within a transparent permit process with measurable conditions, independent oversight and clear responsibilities. The referendum issue must be handled with procedural integrity.
Values Balance, administrative due care and predictability.
Consequences Conditional approval could enable jobs and investment without abandoning oversight or the interests of the surrounding environment.
Right
Arguments The Netherlands should make room for strategic pharmaceutical production and high-quality jobs. Once all statutory studies have been completed, local government should prevent lengthy procedures from blocking an investment that could strengthen the national economy and security of supply.
Values Economic growth, entrepreneurship and national strategic interests.
Consequences Swift decision-making could attract investment, but requires firm agreements so that infrastructure and oversight costs do not fall entirely on residents.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The procedural position has been carefully defined as at the time of writing. Company estimates concerning jobs and investment are attributed as estimates by Lilly.
- confirmed Eli Lilly wants to build a production facility in Katwijk with an investment of €2.6 billion. — This is stated in Lilly's announcement and the municipality's project information. source
- confirmed Lilly expects around 500 direct jobs and 1,500 jobs during construction. — These figures were provided by Lilly itself. source
- confirmed The municipal council is considering the referendum request and the draft decision on 1 October. — The municipality lists both items on the agenda for 1 October. source
- confirmed A positive municipal decision does not mean that production can begin immediately. — RTV Katwijk states that separate environmental permits will be required later. source
Editor's note
The investment, job estimates, permit procedure and referendum steps have been confirmed by Lilly and the municipality. At 09:17, the final vote and whether the project would proceed remained uncertain.Sources
- Nieuwe vestiging geneesmiddelenbedrijf Lilly in Katwijk — Gemeente Katwijk
- Beantwoording zienswijzen — Gemeente Katwijk
- Raadsmeerderheid tekent zich af voor komst Eli Lilly — RTV Katwijk
- Lilly investeert 2,6 miljard euro in ultramoderne productiefaciliteit — Eli Lilly and Company
The story so far
- Thursday, 1 October 2026, 09:22 Katwijk to decide on Eli Lilly factory today (this article)
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 00:59 Katwijk council backs Eli Lilly factory
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 14:03 Katwijk gives green light to Eli Lilly plant
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „eli lilly”
- Trouw — „eli lilly”
- RTL Nieuws — „eli lilly”