Amsterdam’s next harbor

Amsterdam is entering a new economic phase. Where the city once thrived as a trading and port city, and later grew into the financial heart of the Netherlands, the capital must now reinvent itself. The next port of Amsterdam is not focused on trade or stocks, but on knowledge: an economy driven by innovation, research, and talent. CBRE not only wants to witness that future but actively help build it. As we have been doing for half a century.

Fifty Years of Footprints in the City

Over the past half-century, Amsterdam has grown significantly, both spatially and economically. CBRE has been part of that journey, thanks to our involvement in countless key projects; sometimes visible, sometimes behind the scenes. Each one has contributed to shaping the city as we know it today.

We guided the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) to their new home on Wibautstraat, played a role in various development cycles of Rivierstaete along the Amstel, and supported the transformation of the Bijlmerbajes into an attractive residential area. We’ve also been closely involved in the Zuidas district: from the arrival of Atrium Amsterdam, the first office building in an area once dominated by sports fields, to the many companies we’ve helped establish in the country’s leading business hub. And soon, CBRE will return to the Zuidas as we move into Mahler 1, the state-of-the-art building set to rise on the site of ABN AMRO’s circular pavilion, Circl.

Amsterdam Today: Friction

We’re proud of our contribution to a city that has much to be proud of. Yet not everything runs smoothly in Amsterdam. The housing market is under strain, accessibility is being challenged, and many financial institutions are leaving the Zuidas. Where Amsterdam once rose as a trading and port city, and later made its name as a financial center, the city now faces the need to reinvent itself. A new balance is needed between living, working, and well-being, while preserving the dynamism that made Amsterdam thrive. CBRE can and wants to help meet that challenge. That’s why I’m part of the Economic Board: to contribute to a future-proof Metropolitan Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Tomorrow: Hope

While no longer the city’s automatic economic lifeline, the port and the Zuidas remain important. But Amsterdam also boasts two major universities, a large academic hospital, and a thriving ecosystem of startups, scale-ups, and knowledge institutions. This makes it a natural breeding ground for innovation. That’s where the city’s future lies: in research, development, tech, and life sciences. Amsterdam has all the building blocks for a world-class knowledge economy. It’s time to unlock that potential and embrace ambition. Amsterdam: Innovation Capital of Europe.

A bold claim, but not an unrealistic one. There’s still work to be done to get there, starting with space for labs, campuses, testing grounds, and stronger connections between knowledge institutions and businesses. In addition, a robust talent pipeline is needed, where students, researchers, and entrepreneurs can find and support each other. And an infrastructure that links all parts of this ecosystem: from Science Park to the Zuidas and Amsterdam UMC.

Boundless Solutions

Today’s challenges don’t stop at the city limits. Housing, employment, and accessibility are not just urban issues; they’re regional ones. The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA) is, in fact, a single economic entity, stretching from Haarlem to Almere and from Hilversum to Hoofddorp, all within an hour’s drive of Schiphol. The solution lies in integrated collaboration. New residential areas require new public transport corridors (such as an east-west line and an extended north-south line), smart distribution of functions, and a shared vision for living and working. CBRE has long operated at this scale. Thanks to our international experience and data-driven approach, we see a network of opportunities where others see boundaries. Those who try to solve housing, employment, and accessibility in isolation lose three times. Those who connect them regionally win across the board.

Building Tomorrow

That tech and knowledge economy isn’t just an ambitious vision, it’s already taking shape. And CBRE is playing a role in it in multiple ways, resulting in several eye-catching landmarks. Consider:

• The Booking.com campus on Oosterdokseiland
• Uber’s new European headquarters in Tripolis Park
• The base of The Magnum Ice Cream Company in Bloomhouse on Reguliersdwarsstraat
• The European headquarters of biotech firm Neogene Therapeutics in the brand-new One Helix building at the Medical Business Park

International and modern organizations are eager to establish their headquarters in a strong tech ecosystem that appeals to talent from both home and abroad. Thanks to our global perspective and deep data insights, we can advise them on the very best location: Amsterdam.

Building the Future Together

Amsterdam is in full motion and rightly so. To remain economically resilient, the city must grow as a center of knowledge, with space for innovation, entrepreneurship, and a healthy living environment. CBRE knows Amsterdam like no other. We work here, live here, and care deeply about the city. Whether you're a government body, developer, investor, or entrepreneur, for anyone who wants to help shape that future, there’s no better real estate partner. So let’s build the next port of Amsterdam together.