ABP boosts Dutch housing investment to €900m

Dutch pension fund ABP is significantly increasing its investment in Dutch rental housing by an additional €550 mln. 

Carthesius Utrecht

This brings their total partnership with CBRE IM to €900 mln, nearing their €1 bn goal.
This new investment will fund the construction of almost 1,200 rental homes in Amsterdam and Utrecht, with over half designated for the mid-rental segment to ensure affordability for middle-income households. The projects prioritise sustainability, aiming for high certifications like BREEAM NL In-Use Excellent, which will result in energy-efficient and climate-resilient homes.
The largest project involves the acquisition of 1,000 rental homes and 250 parking spaces, spread across four building blocks within the Cartesius area development in Utrecht, developed by the MRP and Ballast Nedam Development consortium. This project will offer a mix of mid-rent and private sector homes. Cartesius has been designed as a "Living Blue Zone" designed to promote health and well-being through sustainable living, green spaces, and community interaction. 
Additionally, ABP is investing in 174 mid‑rental apartments and 27 parking spaces in the Noordhof project in Amsterdam‑Noord, developed by Blauwhoed and AM. This project is located in the new Elzenhagen district, directly adjacent to Amsterdam‑Noord metro station, offering excellent connections to the city centre via the North/South metro line. This development is expected to be awarded the BREEAM In‑Use Excellent certificate.
Harmen van Wijnen, chair of ABP’s Board, stated: “Amsterdam and Utrecht are among the most constrained housing markets in the country. With these investments, ABP reinforces its conviction that affordable rental homes generate returns in two ways: they directly help reduce the housing shortage and provide a stable, long-term, inflation-linked investment. With these investments, we demonstrate that pension capital can be deployed for social impact as well as strong returns for our participants.”
Bas Tiemstra, head of Continental Europe Direct Real Estate Strategies at CBRE Investment Management, added: “The first investments in high‑quality projects in Utrecht and Amsterdam represent an important step towards the objectives of this mandate. These projects combine affordability with strong sustainability features, ensuring resilience and long‑term value. We are proud to continue our collaboration with ABP and jointly address the structural housing shortage in the Netherlands.”