AMSTERDAM-Colliers International has acquired a majority stake in the country’s oldest real estate firm, Boer Hartog Hooft. The local company’s managing partner, Jaap van Rhijn, will take on the role of Netherlands CEO, and his 45-person office will rebrand to Colliers.

 Rhijn will oversee the operations of Colliers in the country. He tells GlobeSt.com that the firm’s strategy is to grow its market position through specialization in hotels, corporate solutions, logistics and retail and to expand into new markets in the Netherlands. “Although the market from a Dutch perspective is not that well, it is slightly improving,” Rhijn says. “From an international point of view the Netherlands is still a very good country to invest in compared to other European countries based on our low unemployment rate, educated workforce and relatively low debts.”

 His firm has recently completed a number of deals, including the sale of the former Kyocera European headquarters, along with its new HQ lease in Hoofddorp. Other transactions include a 600,000-square-foot lease for a local university, the ground purchase for a 700-room hotel in Benelux, three shopping center sales and the 60,000-square-foot lease for the Amsterdam Port office.

 Chris McLernon, CEO for Colliers International EMEA, says the venture positions his firm well for further national expansion. “The Dutch real estate is anchored in Amsterdam and key to our Netherlands strategy,” he said in a statement.