Rotterdam's Office Market Is Changing. And the City Is Changing With It.

Rotterdam has always been a city built around movement.

Its port connects the Netherlands to the rest of Europe and the world. Its skyline has become one of the most recognisable in the country. And now its office market is evolving alongside the wider transformation of the city.

The Rotterdam office market recorded around 62,000 sq m of take up in 2025, with most activity concentrated in the city centre. Knight Frank also reports that flex office operators continued to expand, while demand increasingly favours well located, high quality buildings. 

That makes Rotterdam an interesting market for businesses considering their next European location.

The centre remains the centre

Rotterdam's city centre continues to attract a significant share of office demand.

Its combination of transport connections, amenities and established business infrastructure makes it an obvious choice for companies that want a central location.

Kop van Zuid has also established itself as a premium alternative, offering a different setting while remaining closely connected to the city's core. 

For businesses, the choice is increasingly about what kind of environment they want their office to provide.

A market where quality matters

Rotterdam is seeing the same broader European shift towards higher quality workspace.

Businesses are increasingly looking for offices that combine accessibility, good amenities, sustainability and flexibility.

That is important because the city's available stock is not evenly distributed. Knight Frank identifies differences in vacancy between Rotterdam's districts, with older and more peripheral stock facing different conditions from prime central locations. 

In other words, "available" does not necessarily mean "suitable".

Flexible workspace fits Rotterdam particularly well

Rotterdam's business community includes established corporates, growing companies, international organisations and businesses connected to the port and wider logistics economy.

That creates demand for different types of workspace.

A business might need a conventional headquarters. Another might want a private serviced office for a small local team. A third might need a flexible base while it decides how much permanent space it will require.

The city already has more than 25 coworking locations across central and peripheral areas, according to Rotterdam Partners. (Rotterdam Partners)

That gives occupiers plenty of room to think beyond the traditional lease.

Rotterdam's next chapter

There is a bigger story behind the office market.

Rotterdam is continuing to move beyond its historic identity as an industrial powerhouse, with investment and regeneration supporting its position as a knowledge and innovation economy. Knight Frank highlights the city's substantial planned urban investment and growing reputation as an innovation hub. 

For businesses, that creates an interesting combination: a globally connected city with a strong infrastructure base, but also a workplace market that is continuing to evolve.

What should businesses consider?

For companies looking at office space in Rotterdam, the important questions are likely to be:

Where are your people?

Where are your clients?

How much space do you actually need?

How quickly might that requirement change?

Does the building support the experience you want to create?

Getting those answers right before looking at buildings can make the search considerably more efficient.

Looking for Office Space in Rotterdam?

Global Office Partners helps businesses compare workspace options across Rotterdam and international markets, from flexible and managed offices to conventional workspace.