“Westland will be completely full in a few years”

The last large lot of Honderdland Phase 2 has been sold. This means phase 2 has also sold in record time. If it were up to estate agent Elco Bouwmeester, a possible Phase 3 will now soon be started, on the other side of the motorway.

Business park Honderdland is directly on the A20 motorway, near Hoek van Holland and the Port of Rotterdam, and is one of the fastest growing business parks of Western Europe. “This is thanks to the favourable location as well as the flexible regulations regarding architecture and building height,” says Elco Bouwmeester of Batenburg Bedrijfshuisvesting from Maasdijk. The estate agent’s office is involved in the sales of the lots of Honderdland Phase 2, an initiative of Honderdland Ontwikkelings Combinatie C.V. (HOC).

In 1999, the first plans were drawn up for Business park Honderdland. The site got its name from the former horticultural area of about 100 hectares located here in the past. Five years later, the first lots had been sold. Elco: “The first lot was sold to Verstegen Specerijen. That company, however, never built here. The supermarket war threw a spanner in the works. Cool Control took over the lot, and a few years later they also bought the final lot of phase 1. We never imagined it would go this quickly.” Because of the economic crisis, continued development of the area was halted for a few years. Between 2012 and 2015, a number of lots were sold again, and in June 2017, the zoning plan for Phase 2 was approved. “from that moment on a lot of companies came to us one after the other. The first inhabitant of Phase 2 was Nature’s Pride, which has now even built a new commercial property. The final lot was recently sold.”

Right from the start all companies have been welcome, but emphasis has gradually shifted towards the agro-logistical sector. According to the state agent, practically all companies from Phase 1 are active in the fresh produce sector. “Besides, we also have a lot of industrial companies and professional services. The companies all have one thing in common: they’re all 100% part of the Westland. Honderdland is practically the only location in the area with large lots. Another benefit is that the entire fresh produce supply chain is represented here: producers, trade, packers, logistics, staffing and more, so that people can work efficiently here. The location, and its favourable arrival times from and to the Port of Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland and the rest of the largest horticultural region of the Netherlands, continues to be the most important factor in choosing Honderdland.”

Unique about Business Park Honderdland is that companies own the land themselves. After a lot has been sold, HOC’s job is basically done. However, entrepreneurs can profit from the knowledge and skill of the partners and parties involved when realising a new commercial property. “There’s no obligation, however, to enter into this cooperation when a lot is bought. Entrepreneurs are free to choose,” Elco says. Now that the last lot of Phase 2 has been sold, the end for the collaboration appears to be in sight. The umbrella operating association will of course continue to exist. The association of owners is responsible for the signposting, security and maintenance of the business park.

If it were up to the state agent, the development of Honderdland will be continued in Phase 3. According to him, there are options on the other side of the motorway. “But we’re talking about high costs. Greenhouses will have to make room for a business park, and that’s a difficult discussion, but there are definitely options. After all, there’s a lot of demand from the Westland for another expansion, even though there’s no room for it. The Westland is already completely full, and it’ll be bursting at the seams in just a few years. This is also quite challenging for us estate agents. It’s now up to the government to take action,” Elco concludes.

Batenburg BHV

Elco Bouwmeester