A flight to flexibility in the Netherlands

Our latest research with Savills offers insight into varying aspects of the Netherlands' flexible office market, from the fluctuations that this market experiences, to its continued growth attributed to a shift towards flexibility as well as the growth potential within the market.

Service, branding and adaptability are gaining ground across all real estate sectors. As a result, the ability to adapt and customise as rapidly as possible to changing demands is becoming increasingly important. A good example of a product that meets today’s requirements is flexible office space. The national and international markets for this type of real estate have seen remarkable growth, with more and more office operators and a surge in take-up by flex operators (+242%) in the Netherlands over the last five years.

Service, branding and adaptability are gaining ground across all real estate sectors. As a result, the ability to adapt and customise as rapidly as possible to changing demands is becoming increasingly important. A good example of a product that meets today’s requirements is flexible office space. The national and international markets for this type of real estate have seen remarkable growth, with more and more office operators and a surge in take-up by flex operators (+242%) in the Netherlands over the last five years.

These operators each offer their own type of flexible product, ranging from private offices to the provision of desks within co-working spaces. The continuing professionalisation of this type of product, the increase in brands and a broader geographical spread have made flexible offices an increasingly more mainstream alternative to conventional office space.

The professionalisation of the flexible office market is reflected in its growing share of total office take-up. In 2018, this share was 9.3% in Amsterdam, up from 7.6% just one year earlier. International hotspots, such as Brussels, London and Stockholm, seem to be further ahead than the Dutch capital, with shares of over 20% already.

The flexible office market has shown growth in previous decades, but also periods of contraction. As such, the question is whether its current growth will be sustained. Are growth projections realistic or is the rise of flexible office space just another trend?