From The Editors - Holland Real Estate

From The Editor
Mind shift The Dutch and the water – it’s an age-old theme. In these times of climate change, rising sea levels, glacial fl ooding and heavy rains, the old Dutch maxim of ‘fi ghting against water’ has made way for the concept of ‘living with water’. The Netherlands is literally making room for water. This is – as you can well imagine – a formidable task in a small country always pressed for space, be it for living, working, transport, green space, recreation or water storage. Creative minds have come up with innovative architectural solutions, for example riverbed housing. Cities are introducing ‘water management’ policies that implement underground water storage facilities and put the water back into former canals. When discussing water management it is impossible not to mention HRH Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange, who’s putting the Netherlands’ knowledge of water management back on the world’s map. Due to political changes, the Netherlands has improved its position as the third most livable EU capital according to the ‘Quality of Living’ annual report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Amsterdam now takes third place after Vienna and Copenhagen. The economic growth average is rising 2.7% year-on-year, and for the 23rd time since 1980 the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has been chosen as the ‘Best Airport in Europe’. The Dutch real estate market is booming. High-rise buildings are everywhere especially in the Amsterdam business district area Zuidas and the Rotterdam business district area Kop van Zuid – both magnets to international companies attracted by the improving fi scal climate of the Netherlands, the multilingual labor force and the pleasant living conditions. But, there’s always a but. Society at large has become complicated over the last few decades and so has the development of real estate, especially with regard to the confl ict between ‘market regulation versus public regulation’. Although this dilemma is up to the government to decide, it is the private market that is confronted with the outcome of decisions taken. This topic, in particular, is being discussed throughout this year’s publication. We would like to thank all the contributors for sharing their knowledge. And we cannot forget the staff who have been dedicated to realizing this extensive project. We would also like to thank the companies and institutions who have supported this yearbook with a Company Profi le or Fact Sheet. Without these and the ads, it would be impossible to distribute the book ‘free of charge’ at large fairs and major real estate conferences worldwide. I hope you enjoy your voyage through Holland via this 2007 Yearbook.
Marinus Dijkman Editor-in-Chief March 2007