Kroonenberg Groep has reached agreement with POP MART for a long-term lease at Nieuwendijk 219-227 in Amsterdam. The leased property comprises a retail space of approximately 300 m2 and a basement space of approximately 95 m2.

The new brand store, which opened this morning, is an S-level store: the highest and most comprehensive shop format within POP MART’s international retail concept, and the first of its kind in the Netherlands. The opening of this S-level store highlights POP MART’s ever-growing popularity in the Netherlands. This new location provides more space to present collections and releases and an even more intense brand experience for loyal collectors and new fans of designer toys and pop culture.

POP MART is a fast-growing global player in pop culture and entertainment. With a mission to celebrate everyday moments and inspire creativity, the brand brings designer toys and immersive experiences to life. Since its launch in 2010, POP MART has grown from niche designer toy brand to international cultural phenomenon, with more than 500 stores in 30 countries and a diverse global fan base ranging from millennial collectors to artists and celebrities.

The lease commenced on 1 October 2025 and the store opened today.

Kroonenberg Groep was assisted in this transaction by KroesePaternotte. Pop Mart was assisted by Cushman & Wakefield.

Kroonenberg Groep and the municipality of Amsterdam have taken an important step in the transformation of Sloterdijk I Zuid (Contactbuurt).  The signing of the development agreement for Block I South signifies agreement for the development of a mixed programme of up to 850 homes, part of which is aimed at families in the mid-market segment. The plan also includes about 10,000 m2 for offices, businesses, catering establishments and social facilities, such as a community room and residential treatment location for young people. NEOO is involved in this redevelopment as the delegated developer.

This development aligns with the ambition to transform the Contactbuurt into a vibrant, green neighbourhood with a diverse housing supply and space for urban businesses. Block I South’s location close to amenities such as sports facilities, the Westerpark and schools, makes it an ideal place for families. The Contactbuurt is one of the first areas to be developed for the Haven-Stad project. 

Kroonenberg Groep has delivered the new Metropool Zuid apartment complex located on the Stationsplein in Almere. The residents of the 40 apartments received their keys last week. The commercial spaces on the ground floor were also handed over to new tenants Normal and Only.

Metropool Zuid is centrally located on the corner of Stationsstraat and Metropolestraat, just a stone’s throw from Almere Centrum Station. The building is home to 40 luxury private-sector rental apartments ranging in size from around 70 m2 to around 90 m2.

The apartments were delivered turnkey and feature a loggia, PVC flooring, curtain rails, plastered walls and ceilings, a well-equipped bathroom, a separate toilet and a modern kitchen.

Around 1,000 m2 of commercial space has been built on the ground floor. Normal leases a retail space here of 648 m2. The adjacent retail space of 388 m2 is leased by Only. Both shops will open in early 2026.

Metropool Zuid was designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects. After the complete demolition of the old building in early 2023, contractor Akor began building the complex in late 2023.

The building’s volume fits in well with the adjacent properties and is a great architectural addition to the appearance of Stationsplein. Contractor Akor took on the structural engineering challenge for the desired appearance of the brickwork, which is cantilevered above the window frames. The window frames are flush with the brickwork of the external façade. Moreover, the architect opted for an English bond and this unique masonry had to be accurate to the millimetre. Akor purchased bricks that were cut to size at the factory especially for this project.

Kroonenberg Groep has reached agreement with several tenants for office space within the Unitz concept at Buitenveldertselaan 148. A total of 892 m2 was leased to eight different tenants, spread across the first and fourth floors.

Four tenants will be located on the fourth floor, including Nova-X Europe BV, provider of crypto services; De Vrije Blick Management B.V., a real estate investment company investing in Dutch rental properties; and Alpex Legal B.V., a boutique law firm in the field of mergers and acquisitions. The fourth floor is now fully let. One unit is still available on the first floor.

The office building at Buitenveldertselaan 148 in Amsterdam was recently redeveloped into an impressive workplace. With a ground-floor entrance, four floors, a beautiful 175 m2 roof terrace and a basement with extensive gym, there are ample options for various business activities. Tenants can also use the well-equipped meeting rooms. Due to the successful leasing, the Unitz concept will now also be realised on the 2nd floor.

Kroonenberg Groep is being advised on the leasing of Buitenvelderstelaan 148 and Unitz by Van Dijk & Ten Cate and Dils.

Almere City FC has announced that KNVB’s professional football licensing commission has granted final approval for Yanmar’s acquisition of Almere City FC. This formally completes the acquisition, and the Japanese family-owned company is now officially 100% owner of Almere City FC.

With the acquisition, Almere City FC and Yanmar, which has been the club’s stadium sponsor for 10 years, are taking their long-standing partnership to the next level. “The final approval of the licensing commission means that the acquisition is now formally complete and therefore a fact,” said John Bes,general manager of Almere City FC. “This is a historic moment for our club. With Yanmar as the new owner and Kroonenberg Groep, the former owner, continuing as the main sponsor, we have a solid foundation to realise our ambitions in the coming years. It is confirmation of the confidence in Almere City’s strategy and future.”

Yanmar is also looking forward to the next phase of collaboration. Samir Laoukili, CEO of Yanmar Europe B.V., Yanmar’s EMEA headquarters based in Almere since 1989: “We are delighted that the licensing commission has granted its approval for the acquisition, thereby quickly making the transaction official. Almere City feels like a natural partner and we want to build together on sustainable sporting and social growth. We are committed to further strengthening the club with our football experience, international expertise and commitment to Almere. Football is our engine and, together with Almere City, we want to show that.”

Lesley Bamberger, CEO of Kroonenberg Groep, which owned Almere City FC from 2010 until today, had this to say about the finalisation of the acquisition: “We are proud of the foundation that has been laid at Almere City in recent years and pleased that it will continue to be built upon under Yanmar’s ownership. We wish them every success in doing so. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the club. Kroonenberg Groep will remain involved as the main sponsor and we look to the future with confidence.”

Yanmar is internationally known for its strong commitment to sports, and football in particular. Yanmar has owned Cerezo Osaka, one of Japan’s oldest professional football clubs, since 1957. Cerezo Osaka plays in the J1 League, Japan’s highest-level professional football league. With the completed acquisition of Almere City FC, Yanmar now owns the youngest professional football club in the Netherlands.

Today, on Amsterdam’s 750th birthday, Artis will receive a gift of over 600 solar panels on its roofs, many of them so-called Chameleon panels. In addition to their appropriate shape, these panels change colour along with the buildings, thus preserving the zoo’s historical character. The financial savings that can be achieved through lower energy costs will be used to give schoolchildren and city pass holders with limited budgets access to Artis. Femke Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam, Steven van Rijswijk (ING) and Lesley Bamberger (Kroonenberg Groep) symbolically handed over the first panel to Artis’s director Rembrandt Sutorius today.

The panels for Artis are part of a gift of 5,500 solar panels to the city of Amsterdam, offered by ING and Kroonenberg Groep as part of the city’s 750th birthday celebrations. The energy cost savings will benefit lower-income Amsterdam residents through free admission, discounts or memberships at social and cultural institutions whose buildings will be fitted with the panels.

Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema: “What a wonderful birthday gift for our city. Not to mention the energy savings that will benefit residents who have less to spend.”

Steven van Rijswijk, CEO of ING: “We are happy to see that our collective gift to the birthday city, including to Artis, directly benefits Amsterdam residents. The energy savings from the deployment of the panels gives social institutions more financial space for new initiatives. ING has been firmly rooted in Amsterdam since 1881, and this project highlights our connection to the city.”

Lesley Bamberger, CEO of Kroonenberg Groep, adds: “For this special birthday, we wanted to give a gift that would allow us to make a positive impact for Amsterdam residents on limited budgets. I am proud of what we have already achieved with this over the past year and a half. In addition, the solar panels contribute to the sustainability of the properties in question, something we also constantly strive for in our daily work.”

The project, called “Amsterdamse Maatschappelijke Sonnepanelen” (Amsterdam Community Solar Panels), with a nod to the Amsterdam accent, also accelerates the preservation of (historic) buildings of sports clubs, care institutions, community centres and cultural organisations throughout the city, including Weesp. A total of 2,870 panels have already been installed, good for 875,000 KWh per year. Ultimate goal: 2,250 MWh per year, comparable to the consumption of about 900 households.

The project involves a collaboration with the City of Amsterdam and social

institutions renting the relevant buildings from Gemeentelijk Vastgoed (Municipal Property) on which the panels will be installed. Due to the mostly listed status of buildings, solar panels are adapted accordingly. The aim is to complete the entire project by the end of 2027.

For an update on all the solar panels, visit: www.sonnepanelen.nl

Kroonenberg Groep has reached an agreement with Holdinga Matthijssen Kraak Notaries (HMK) for the long-term lease of office space at Apollolaan 171 in Amsterdam. The leased property concerns a space of over 800 m2 on the 3rd floor. The contract commences on 15 September and, after a very short installation period, HMK will move to 171 Apollolaan in October.

HMK Notaries was founded in 2013 by former partners of renowned international firms. The firm’s vision is to provide high-quality legal advice in a welcoming, social setting. Clients of HMK Notaries mainly include corporates, companies, entrepreneurs and investors as well as family businesses.

HMK Notaries on choosing Apollolaan 171: “Our current office location was proving to be too small for the size of our office. During our search for a new location, we saw Kroonenberg Groep’s high-quality office building being built from the ground up from our current location right next to Apollolaan 171. With this office, Kroonenberg Groep offered us a space perfectly suited to our growth ambition. We look forward to continuing our work in this modern and sustainable environment. Although our office is moving, the familiar surroundings will remain unchanged and close by for our clients and office colleagues.”

With this letting transaction, the 3rd and 4th floors of Apollolaan 171 are now fully let. Following the successful leasing of Unitz Premium on the ground and 1st floors, units starting at around 170 m2 are still available for rent on the 2nd floor within this concept.

Kroonenberg Groep is being advised in the leasing of Apollolaan 171 by CBRE, Van Dijk & Ten Cate, and Dils.

Kroonenberg Groep has expanded its UNITZ concept with the addition of UNITZ Premium. The first location to open this new concept is Apollolaan 171. These high-end UNITZ units are located on the ground and first floors, totaling approximately 2,245 m² of high-quality, independent office space. The units feature shared facilities such as meeting rooms with videoconferencing capabilities, quiet booths, and a modern pantry with space for communal lunches, for example. Every detail has been carefully considered to create a workspace that is both stylish and functional. The design is by Claudio Varone, and Ditt officemakers handled the finishing work.

The first five tenants will move in shortly after completion, bringing the total office space to approximately 1,500 m². Necron NL, part of Necron Group AG, an investor and developer in hospitality, healthcare, and logistics real estate, is renting a 423 m² unit. FGS Global, a global communications and public affairs consultancy, is renting a 328 m² unit. Inflexion, a private equity firm that invests in established, fast-growing companies with a minority or majority stake, is renting 341 m².

Toko Marine Insurance Group, a multinational insurance holding company, is renting 220 m², and Prime Ventures, an organization focused on investing in European technology companies, is renting a 143 m² unit. All tenants have signed long-term leases.

Due to the continued demand for smaller, high-quality office space, UNITZ Premium at Apollolaan 171 will be further expanded in the coming months with approximately 1,600 m² on the second floor.

Kroonenberg Groep is being assisted in the leasing of Apollolaan 171 by Van Gool Elburg Real Estate Specialists, CBRE, and Van Dijk & Ten Cate.

Kroonenberg Groep has reached agreement with BodyBase for a long-term lease at Gelderlandplein. The leased property concerns 252 m² of retail space on Willem van Weldammelaan which used to be home to Total4Living.

BodyBase Studios offer a new way of training which starts with balance and which offers a perfect combination of sweaty, fast-paced workouts and relaxing ‘flow’ sessions. The method involves the use of BaseLine, a high-quality, innovative and smart reformer machine developed by BodyBase itself.

This is BodyBase Studios’ second studio in Amsterdam and its fourth in the Netherlands.

The lease commenced on 1 June and the studio is going to open on Friday 27 June.

Kroonenberg Groep is being advised on the leasing of Gelderlandplein premises by KroesePaternotte.

Kroonenberg Groep has reached an agreement with the Municipality of Amsterdam for a long-term extension of the existing lease agreement for business premises located at Daniël Goedkoopstraat 7-9 in Amsterdam. The leased property comprises 5,150 m2 of office space and 6,465 m2 of commercial space. This location is home to the municipality’s Supervision and Enforcement department.

A long-term lease extension has also been agreed with Mobilis Crossfit at Daniël Goedkoopstraat 29. The leased property concerns a commercial space of 991 m2. Mobilis Crossfit is a gym that provides strength and conditioning training programmes aimed at creating the broadest possible stimulus for the body.