VanWonen welcomes new majority shareholder

After ActivumSG completed a review of exit options as the investment was held in a fixed-life fund, VanWonen helped source the new group of investors. These investors are now uniting into a dedicated investment fund for VanWonen. 

Alfred Bolks, CEO of VanWonen: “This new group of investors has great confidence in our growth ambitions and supports our strategic direction focused on expansion. We are grateful to ActivumSG for their partnership over this period, during which we were able to scale and strengthen the business. These Dutch investors are stepping in with full conviction and in doing so, they are sending a strong and positive message to the Dutch housing market. Our company will continue to remain in trusted hands: we already know several of the investors well due to their involvement with VanWonen since its inception. They have a thorough understanding of the market. They also trust that the government will reopen doors for private players to contribute to the country’s major housing construction task.”

Six successful years
The arrival of the new Dutch investors marks the end of six successful years with ActivumSG. During this time, the VanWonen management was given ample scope to innovate, grow and execute the strategic agenda. This allowed the company to expand further while maintaining its distinctive market profile. As part of its growth, headcount has increased from 40 employees at acquisition to more than 80 employees today. This coincided witha doubling of home sales: from 600 to 1,200 per year. VanWonen has also strengthened its sustainability credentials, becoming the first real estate developer in the Netherlands to undergo an independent annual ESG audit by Sustainalytics, achieving a low-risk ESG rating in 2024. The platform is advancing a carbon-neutral new-build target for 2040, further enhancing its position in competitive tender processes.

Stefan Mohr, Head of Corporate Transactions at ActivumSG, commented: “VanWonen reflects our strategy of identifying and scaling high-quality real estate platforms in structurally supported sectors like residential and hospitality. Our focus throughout our ownership of VanWonen has been on supporting a robust, scalable business. The end-result is a business that is both operationally resilient and well-positioned to continue addressing the long-term structural undersupply of high-quality housing in the Netherlands. We are proud of what we have achieved alongside Alfred, Chris and the team, and believe VanWonen is exceptionally well-placed for the future.”

At the forefront of the market
Since its inception in 2017, area developer VanWonen has grown into a major national player in the Dutch real estate industry. With a strategy focused on growth and a mission centred on creating homes and living environments for the healthiest generations, VanWonen has positioned itself at the forefront of the market. In 2026, VanWonen expects to sell 1,200 homes. The team consists of approximately 80 professionals. VanWonen is headquartered in Zwolle, with hubs in The Hague, Utrecht, Groningen and Nijmegen.

Advisors involved
The transaction was completed in consultation with Objectiver (M&A advice), GreenbergTraurig (legal advice), Lexence (legal advice), De Breij (legal advice and due diligence), Accuracy (financial due diligence), Svalner Atlas (tax advice), and NautaDutilh (legal advice). 

Further financial details will not be disclosed.