The industrial estate known as ‘De Haven’ is located on the northwest side of Drachten, and is the largest industrial estate in the northern Netherlands.

The total gross surface area of the industrial estate is approx. 300 hectares. The industrial estate offers good accessibility to both road and waterborne transport. The area covered by the plan is connected via Noorderhogeweg and Zuiderhogeweg to the N31 highway and the A7 motorway, both of which are part of the main road network. Drachten and the surrounding area offer a considerable workforce. The area is also close to the regional training centres in the cities of Groningen and Leeuwarden. Innovative firms cooperate closely with these training centres with a view to offering students improved guidance during the course of their careers .

Drachten’s catchment area has a population of some 150,000, which is why the town also offers an appealing and extensive range of shops. Drachten is particularly green, as it was decided that close attention should be paid to retaining the area’s rural image during the development of its residential districts. The municipal authorities have made considerable investments in renovating various parks during the past few years. The area is of a largely rural nature, with a considerable amount of wetland. The municipality boasts over 35 kilometres of waterways, while Drachten also has the largest yacht marina in Friesland. Drachten can also compete with major cities in terms of its cultural amenities. In addition to Het Lawei theatre and the local Arts Centre, de Meldij, the town hosts a broad range of cultural events and attractions.