Scaling Beyond Borders: Insights from the “Durf te Schalen” Think & Drink Event

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Only 4% of companies grow beyond 10 employees — and an even smaller number successfully scale internationally.

Yesterday’s Think & Drink event, “Durf te schalen: van groeiambitie naar realisatie”, held in The Hague, was a powerful reminder that sustainable growth is no accident. It demands a structured approach, clear focus, and bold leadership.

Co-hosted by MKB Den Haag, ImpactCity, and InnovationQuarter, the event opened with an engaging and candid conversation between Pieter Scholten (MKB Den Haag) and Irene Samwel (ImpactCity), setting an inspiring tone for the afternoon.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Bart van Nol from ScaleUp Company | B Corp, who shared practical and candid insights into the stages of business growth and common challenges faced by ambitious founders. From the initial rollercoaster phase to achieving operational flow, Bart emphasized that successful scaling requires the ability to let go of old habits, reinforce organizational foundations, and build effectively for the future.

As the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie des Pays-Bas en France, we were pleased to connect with many companies preparing to expand internationally. Several of these businesses will join us this autumn on the GMEP trade mission to Paris.

We extend our sincere thanks to Elisa van Maanen-Gentzsch for the invitation and to all the founders we met. We look forward to supporting their exciting growth journeys ahead.