AEW Europe, one of the world’s leading real estate investment and asset managers , has completed a strategic investment in the Netherlands with the acquisition of a high-quality Life Science asset in Nijmegen. This sale and leaseback transaction with Symeres, a major player in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, marks a significant step in strengthening its presence in the European market.
The c. 5,600 m² asset comprises two interconnected buildings, offering an optimal allocation of 80% laboratory space and 20% office space. Symeres, who has owned and occupied the site since 2006 when it originally developed the asset, has signed a 20-year long-term lease indexed to inflation. These spaces will continue to serve as the company's headquarters.
Ideally located in the Kerkenbos business park in Nijmegen, the property benefits from a dynamic environment within a rapidly expanding Life Science hub. Its immediate proximity to two major Life Science and technology campuses, including Radboud University and the University Medical Center, enhances its attractiveness.
Nijmegen enjoys a strategic position in the eastern Netherlands, on the German border. This location offers excellent connectivity through highway links to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Germany, as well as rail connections to Utrecht, Düsseldorf, and Amsterdam. The nearby Waal River also serves as a major waterway for goods transport between Germany and the Netherlands.
Antoine Barbier, Head of AEW Patrimoine, commented: "This investment marks AEW Patrimoine’s entry into the Dutch Life Science market. It allows us to build strategic exposure to this increasingly attractive real estate typology for our investors, while strengthening the geographical diversification and granularity of our portfolio in Europe."
Frederique Weber, Country Head The Netherlands at AEW Europe, added: ”This asset features high-quality space in a prominent Life Science cluster, which is essential to the tenant's operations. It therefore guarantees stable long-term income. The Dutch Life Science market demonstrates strong sector fundamentals, supported by growing demand for modern, well-located spaces."
AEW Europe was advised by JLL and Greenberg Traurig. The seller was advised by by NautaDutilh and CBRE.
Photo credit: ©Top-Shot.
[1] Source: 2025 IRE.IQ Real Estate Managers Guide”. The Guide, published annually by Institutional Real Estate, Inc., ranks real estate managers based on the gross value of real estate AUM ($m) as of December 31, 2024.
About AEW
AEW is one of the world's largest real estate asset managers, with €73.1bn of assets under management as at 31 December 2025[1]. AEW has over 820 employees, with its main offices located in Boston, London, Paris and Singapore and offers a wide range of real estate investment products including comingled funds, separate accounts and securities mandates across the full spectrum of investment strategies. AEW represents the real estate asset management platform of Natixis Investment Managers, one of the largest asset managers in the world.
As at 31 December 2025, AEW Europe managed €36.2bn of real estate assets in Europe on behalf of a number of funds and separate accounts. AEW Europe has over 510 employees based in 11 offices across Europe and and provides investment services across Core, Value-Add and Opportunistic investment strategies on behalf of its clients. In the last five years, AEW has invested and divested a total volume of almost €13bn of real estate across European markets.