Nijmegen Office Space Guide

[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space to rent in Nijmegen as well as general information that may be useful if you are thinking of renting office space in Nijmegen.

If you would like us to carry out a free office space search of the Nijmegen market for you then please just get in touch.

History & Architecture

Nijmegen is located in the east of the Netherlands on the winding Waal River. In 2005 the city celebrated its 2,000^th year of existence, making it the oldest city in the country. Nijmegen started life as Roman fort, with its place overlooking the Waal River and the rest of the Rhine valley it was perfectly strategically placed. After several unsuccessful revolts against Roman rule, a sizable settlement was built up around the fort. In 104 CE Emperor Trajan named the town Noviomagus, from where the name Nijmegen stems. As the Roman Empire withered, Nijmegen was incorporated into the Frankish Kingdom. During this time the city became a major commercial centre, benefitting from trade from the Waal. Nijmegen grew more politically important as well, with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI being born in the city in 1165. In 1364 the city joined the powerful Hanseatic League, a guild of merchants which controlled the trade on the coast of Northern Europe. During this time Nijmegen also became a centre of the arts, especially painting. The famous Dutch miniature painters, the Limbourg brothers, were born and raised in the city. The late 17^th century saw a series of important treaties signed in Nijmegen in an attempt to end the constant warfare that was affecting Northern Europe at the time. The choice of Nijmegen in which to sign the treaties underlined the city’s strategic and political importance. In the 19^th century, the city expanded greatly and modernized. A rail bridge was built over the Waal and streetlights were installed. In 1927 the University of Nijmegen was founded. During WWII the Nijmegen was occupied by the German army and was the scene of fierce fighting during Operation Market Garden, which resulted in a military disaster for the Allies in the nearby town of Arnhem. Much of the city was also damaged when it was carpet bombed mistakenly by the US Air Force. After the war however the damage was rebuilt, and today the city is one of the most important and picturesque in the Netherlands.

Economy

Nijmegen is an important part of the Stadsregio Arnhem-Nijmegen, a metropolitan area consisting of the cities of Nijmegen and Arnhem and various local municipalities. In total, approximately 800,000 people live in the area. The major industries in the area consist of energy, fashion, tourism, semiconductors and health. The local economy is varied and usually healthy. A full two-thirds of the working population of the areas has a secondary or university education and there are numerous research and education facilities in the region. Specifically, Nijmegen is an important centre of psycholinguistics and is home to the Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics. Also, the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior is based in the city. Fashion and design also employ much of the population of Nijmegen, with over a third of the working population of the city working in a creative field. The largest industrial company in the area is the chip maker NXP, which employs almost 5,000 people.

Tourism

The tourism industry is important to Nijmegen, which while functioning as a major urban centre still manages to maintain the sleepy feel of a country village. Due to being bombed and shelled during WWII the city doesn’t have large amounts of its old architecture left, but it is still a popular place for tourists to wander through. Many visit the Carolingian Chapel on Valkhof hill and the town hall on Burchtstraat is from the 15^th century. Valkhof hill also features the Valkhof Museum which has a number of artefacts and displays about the history of the area. St Stevenskerk Courtyard is also a popular location as is the Grote Markt (Great Market) known for its abundance of restaurants and cafes.

International Four Day March

The event that brings the most international visitors to Nijmegen, and what the city is best known for is the annual Four Day March event. The Four Day March starts on the third Tuesday of every July and consists of four solid days of walking, with distances varying from 30 to 50 kilometres each day. It is the largest marching event in the world and is attended by thousands of members of the armed forces of various countries. Additionally, many veterans of WWII from the USA, UK and Canada are invited to help celebrate the liberation of the Netherlands during the war. The accompanying festivities, known as the Vierdaagsefeesten, which include a rock festival, have become the largest outdoor event in the country.

Transportation

As with many Dutch cities, the bicycle is the best and most popular form of transportation in Nijmegen, and the city is nicely ideally laid out for cyclists. The local bus company, Breng, operates a service which covers the entire city and includes nearby Arnhem. Nijmegen has four train stations, and a main central station, which is connected to the national network.

 Office space to rent in Nijmegen

The Dutch economy overall is recovering well, mostly due to the health of the German economy, however, the impact of Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is questionable. Most of Nijmegen’s Grade A office space is found in the centre of the city near the Kronenburger Park and the main roads of Oranjesingel, Marialaan and Groesbeekseweg. The Dutch office market traditionally has a fairly high vacancy rate and Nijmegen is no different. Therefore prime office space is readily available and rents are still fairly low. However, the high vacancy rate is an ongoing concern for those in the market.

We carry out a free office space search and our advisory and acquisition services are also free, always. Our Nijmegen office space brokers and agents are globally regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ensuring the highest standards of commercial property advice and service at all times. We look forward to helping you find the best office space for rent for your business.

The Office Providers are Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)