Author Leonie Janssen-Jansen, associate professor of Planning at the University of Amsterdam, gives us a remarkable glimpse into some recent visions of the vacancy in the office market in Amsterdam on the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad opinion page of Wednesday 20 February 2013.
In her Dutch article ‘Real estate really remains saturated’ she writes that Platform 31/Nicis in the summer of 2012 was not sufficiently convinced that there is a special and serious problem with the office vacancy in Amsterdam. Platform 31 based this on the scientific opinion that a lot of vacancy leads to lower rents. Lower rents would make Amsterdam a more attractive location for international companies and start-ups. The vacancy would therefore lead to growth and therefore be good for the city.
In our opinion a very limited look at the economic drivers of international companies and start-ups.