Rotterdam’s office rental market serves businesses with very different needs, from small teams to larger organisations connected with the port and the wider city economy. Finding suitable premises depends on location, building quality, size and the date you need to move. A citywide vacancy percentage alone cannot tell you how many suitable offices are available.
This article updates the original 2020 market outlook. Its earlier figures of 15% and 49% lacked a sufficiently clear source, geographical boundary and measurement date. They should not be used as current market statistics or as a basis for a rental decision.
How to read Rotterdam vacancy figures
Distinguish the municipality, the city centre and the wider Rotterdam region. Also check whether a report measures vacant space, space being marketed, or newly leased space. These measures answer different questions. A building advertised for a future date is not necessarily empty today, while an empty building may require refurbishment before a tenant can use it.
For a comparison with Amsterdam or The Hague, use the same reporting period and definition. Do not combine a regional percentage from one report with a city-centre figure from another. Ask the adviser supplying a statistic for its publication date, area covered and underlying office stock.
What recent reporting says
Rotterdam’s municipal annual reporting for 2025 describes a divided market: good-quality offices at strong locations can be scarce even while other space is available. It notes that new supply is concentrated in the Central Business District. This is a description of market differences, not evidence that every office in Rotterdam commands the same rent.
For a tenant, the useful question is therefore how much space meets the brief. A small team seeking a furnished room and a large organisation seeking connected floors are comparing different pools of buildings. Ask for available units matching your actual capacity, accessibility and delivery requirements.
Development projects and the outlook
New buildings and refurbishment can add options, but planned space is not a guaranteed move-in solution. Ask whether a project is permitted, under construction, pre-let or ready for occupation. Confirm the handover condition and what happens if completion slips.
The Floating Office Rotterdam mentioned in the earlier outlook is no longer merely a planned project. Architect Powerhouse Company records it as completed in 2021. Its completion does not mean space there is currently available, or establish a forecast for rents elsewhere.
A practical shortlist for prospective tenants
Write down your target move date, peak attendance and essential room types. Compare travel routes at the times your staff will use them, rather than choosing by a district’s reputation alone. During viewings, assess noise, daylight, meeting-room access and the layout your furniture would require.
Request a complete cost schedule: base rent, charges, utilities, fit-out, parking and any rent-free period. Compare offers over the same term. A lower headline rent can be offset by setup costs or limited flexibility. Have the proposed lease reviewed before committing, including notice, adjustments and return conditions.
Use market reports to frame questions and live offers to make the choice. Keep a dated record of availability and unanswered questions for each property. This gives a more useful decision basis than an unsupported forecast of citywide rent stabilisation.
