Real Estate

The real estate sector is benefiting from the growing economy, due to an upward trend in domestic demand and the growth in global trade. The number of transactions is increasing, ranging from the transformation of existing real estate to more new build developments. Building-related sustainability requirements, changes in designation, dwindling retailer numbers, and vacant offices all necessitate smart solutions. Houthoff’s extensive Real Estate Team comprises over 50 real estate specialists who look beyond the problem. They have the extensive knowledge and practical experience required to anticipate changing demand in the sector. Our civil-law notaries play a pivotal role in the Real Estate Team. Houthoff assists investors, project developers, financiers, construction companies, housing corporations and end users with complex real estate transactions and disputes.

Ranked in Band 1
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2024 Edition)
“One client says: 'The combination of excellent legal skills, market knowledge, efficient approach and commercial awareness make the team unique'.”
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2024 Edition)
'A client mentions: ‘Houthoff has always made us feel like the most important client they have and above all we have absolute trust in working alongside them. Their deep understanding of the real estate industry is second to none and they have a well structured team who clearly enjoy working together as well. We have always felt Houthoff provides a supreme level of service’."
Legal 500, Real Estate (2024 Edition)
Ranked in Tier 1
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2023 Edition)
"A client mentions: 'The team is always up to date on the latest regulations and case law and is able to make the most complicated topics very clear to the business through practical overviews'."
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2023 Edition)
"One client says: 'Houthoff is hands-on and very knowledgeable when dealing with complex situations'."
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2023 Edition)
“A client enthuses that Houthoff ‘exceeded our expectations,’ and adds that the firm is ‘absolutely the best in the Dutch construction market’.”
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2022 Edition)
“The quality the team provides is high, which is of great importance in the complex transactions where stakes, risks and responsibilities are high.”
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2022 Edition)
“A client appreciates that the firm's lawyers ‘always deliver in time and their advice is always complete, with the right depth on the details’.”
Chambers Europe, Real Estate (2022 Edition)

Our expertise in the real estate sector

Good legal support is essential in the sale and purchase, development or redevelopment of large real estate projects. Parties engage our Real Estate Team for advice on complex structures and benefit from the practical solutions that our civil-law notaries and lawyers guarantee. Smart cities are on the rise. National and international parties that invest in sustainable capital, technological communication and smart infrastructure to build smart cities come to us for strategic advice.

We combine our extensive sector knowledge with our knowledge of sale and purchase transactions, tenancy law, environmental law, project development, administrative law and real-estate financing. Our dedicated Real Estate Team helps players in the national and international real estate markets to succeed.

Highlighted Matters
Assisted Credit Suisse with the approx. EUR 33m sale of a retail complex in the city centre of Rotterdam to Zinc.
Highlighted Matters
Advised LCN in connection with the disposal of their office building.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Weesperplein 6 B.V. (State Street) on the acquisition of the Borneo office building in The Hague by means of an asset deal.
Highlighted Matters
Advised BPSA in connection with the acquisition of the Las Palmas mixed-use building in Rotterdam.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Tristan Capital Partners in the EUR 95,000,000 financing with ING Bank N.V. for the purpose of the acquisition of a portfolio of over 700 residential units in the Rotterdam and The Hague area.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Egeria Real Estate Development and FLOW Real Estate in relation to the financing of the redevelopment of the Strawinskyhuis, located at the Zuidas in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The financing is provided by Bentall GreenOak, a debt fund.
Highlighted Matters
Advising Tristan Capital Partners on the EUR 95 million financing with ING Bank N.V. to acquire a portfolio of over 700 residential units in the Rotterdam and The Hague area.
Highlighted Matters
Advised a.s.r. on the acquisition of Sweco Capital Consultants.
Highlighted Matters
Advised HqO, together with Goodwin Procter LLP, on the acquisition of Office App. Office App is a leading European tenant and employee engagement platform.
Highlighted Matters
Advising Hoorne Vastgoed BV and Hoorne Vastgoed Ontwikkeling BV, a seller and a developer, respectively, on the sale of two distribution centres in Alkmaar.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Hansainvest Hanseatische Investment GmbH on the sale of 'The Monarch Tower' to Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate. The tower is situated on a prime location in the Beatrixkwartier in The Hague, the city's central business district.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate in the acquisition of a newly developed distribution centre for Jumbo in Bleiswijk. The seller, Somerset, retains a 10% interest in the business.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted Trustbridge Partners with a USD 200 million follow-on investment in WeWork China.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted the Salvation Army in setting up the investment fund 'Stichting Leger des Heils WoonVermogen' for construction projects that make a social impact. The 'Stichting Leger des Heils WoonVermogen' is funded by private investors and aims to build 250 residences for vulnerable people in the coming years.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted ShoppingParks N.V., Terzetmus B.V., Kempen & Co N.V. and KBC Securities N.V. with the successful accelerated bookbuild offering of 750,000 shares in the capital of Retail Estates N.V., a Belgian publicly listed real estate company. ShoppingParks N.V. and Terzetmus B.V. are two closed-end Dutch real estate funds managed by Freeland.
Highlighted Matters
Advised Kroonenberg Groep B.V., jointly with Lexence, on the acquisition of a shopping centre in Almere valued at EUR 82 million. The property comprises 65 shops and office spaces near the railway station. Our lawyers focused on the legal due diligence, negations on the SPA and the transfer of the portfolio.
Highlighted Matters
Assisted Heimstaden AB with the indirect acquisition and financing of 9,544 residential units in the Netherlands at a purchase price of EUR 1.4 billion. Through this acquisition, Heimstaden has become the third largest private residential property owner in the Netherlands. This is the largest real estate transaction ever in the Netherlands in terms of the number of housing units.
Highlighted Matters
Advised a.s.r. real estate on the acquisition – on behalf of ASR Dutch Prime Retail Fund – of the monumental property Spui 10 in The Hague.
Highlighted Matters
Houthoff assisted CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDL) in a transaction where CDL took a majority interest in the four-star hotel 'MGallery by Sofitel' in Florence, Italy. Houthoff worked on this transaction with Allen & Gledhill (Singapore), Shooklin & Bok (Singapore) and Chiomenti (Italy).
Highlighted Matters
Houthoff advised Gramercy Europe Limited on the acquisition of a distribution centre in Helmond. The property comprises approximately 26,874.9 m2 distribution and office space and parking places.