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PropertyEU has assembled a panel of experts for a special investment briefing on the Dutch market during Expo Real.

The panellists include Dick van Hal, CEO of fund manager Bouwinvest; Heino Vink, CEO of European shopping centre developer Multi Corporation; Jeppe de Boer, chief investment officer of Rotterdam-based office developer OVG; Geert de Nekker, director international investments at Dutch asset manager Syntrus Achmea and Jules van Gaalen, Director, Capital Markets, Colliers International.

The panel discussion and networking event on Monday 8 October will drill down through the negative reports about the market to identify opportunities for canny investors.

The Netherlands Investment Briefing takes place from 14.45 - 16.00 in the Networking Lounge (Hall A1, Stand 440).

Most cross-border investors have read about the high vacancy rates, limited financing and concerns about valuations in the Netherlands.

Yet, a growing band of investors are acquiring prime Dutch assets in an environment of higher yields than in the other core markets such as Germany, France and the UK.

In July, Rotterdam-based developer OVG announced it had acquired an office building in Amsterdam from Bouwinvest's Dutch Institutional Office Fund.

Jeppe de Boer, CIO of the developer, said at the time that now is a good time to step into Dutch offices. 'The spread between current initial yields and the risk-free rate - the interest rate paid for state bonds - is nowhere as wide as in the Netherlands. This can generate a total return of 10%.'

Months earlier, German fund manager Deka Immobilien bought the Rock office tower in Amsterdam's Zuidas business district from Evans Randall for just less than EUR 133 mln or a record high gross initial yield of 7%; and the Viñoly office building in the same area for EUR 140 mln, a yield of just under 7%.

Other segments are active too. Recently, Prologis acquired a 38,600 m² distribution centre near Rotterdam while London-based fund manager Metric Capital Partners has invested in the expansion plans of Dutch hotel developer TVHG Budget Group Beheer.

Investment manager Bouwfonds has been buying Dutch apartments, and Bouwinvest has been expanding the holdings of its institutional retail property fund.

PropertyEU is also hosting investment briefings on the European logistics sector and debt financing during Expo Real. Click on the link below for more information.