AEW, 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 on behalf of a strategy for French retail investors. This sale and leaseback transaction with Symeres, a major player in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, marks a significant step in strengthening the fund’s presence in the European market.
The 5,600-square-metre 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.
This acquisition brings the total area managed by the fund to approximately 21,000 square metres.
Source: press release received on 20 April 2026