The former Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, a Unesco World Heritage building which topped the list of The 25 Most Beautiful Factories in the World in 2015, has been sold to a family office for an undisclosed sum.
Built between 1925 and 1931 and expanded in 1967, the 68,000 m2 complex was initially used for processing and packaging coffee, tea and tobacco by its then owner, food conglomerate Sara Lee/DE.
When Sara Lee terminated these activities in 1998, the complex was converted into the Van Nelle Design Factory, housing a wide variety of new media and design companies. It currently has around 80 tenants. Some of the areas are used for meetings, conventions and events.
The sale involved a number of parties, including Van Nellefabriek BV, Rotterdam city council as site holder for Unesco and the financier, whose identity was not disclosed.
Property consultants NL real estate – Knight Frank advised on the deal while Van Doorne Adocaten en Notariisen and Ekelmans & Meijer Advocaten acted on the legal side.
