DRS Makelaars
DRS Makelaars is an Amsterdam-based commercial real estate brokerage founded in 1987, offering tenant and landlord representation, investment advisory, valuations, and workplace strategy services to enterprise clients and investors across the Netherlands, with international reach via partner networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DRS Makelaars does
DRS Makelaars is a privately held commercial real estate brokerage headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, operating under the legal entity DRS Real Estate B.V. Founded in 1987, the firm provides a full suite of CRE services across the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and, via partner networks, the broader Netherlands and Germany. Its service lines encompass tenant and landlord representation for office leasing (Bedrijfspand Huren / Verhuren), acquisition and sales advisory (Kopen / Verkopen), real estate investment advisory (Vastgoed Beleggen), professional property valuations (Taxatie), and workplace strategy consulting. DRS also co-founded Deskfinder, an online office search platform, and maintains referral partnerships with GeraldEve, Lee & Associates, and regional Dutch brokers to extend cross-border reach.
Revenue is generated through transaction-based commissions: tiered brokerage fees of 1.5-2% on property sales (minimum €2,000), 10-16% of annual rent on leases depending on term and value, and €200/hour for valuation engagements. The client base is anchored by enterprise tenants and investors including De Nederlandsche Bank, Heineken, Just Eat Takeaway.com, TomTom, Catawiki, Quadoro, and LucidChart, alongside a broader portfolio of approximately 203 listed properties.
The firm operates with a lean team of approximately 17 professionals, led by CEO Thomas van der Heijden (in role since 2011) and Manager Operations Daniëlle Evers. DRS relies primarily on conventional web technology (WordPress, Google Analytics, WPML) and does not disclose any proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or API offerings. The core technology differentiation is institutional: 37 years of accumulated Amsterdam market knowledge, supported by an international partner network that enables cross-border mandates without proportional headcount investment.
DRS Makelaars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DRS Makelaars
- Legal name
- DRS Real Estate B.V.
- Website
- https://drs.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DRS Makelaars is an Amsterdam-based commercial real estate brokerage founded in 1987, offering tenant and landlord representation, investment advisory, valuations, and workplace strategy services to enterprise clients and investors across the Netherlands, with international reach via partner networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DRS Makelaars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
DRS Makelaars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Brokerage Commission - Sales: DRS earns commission (courtage) on commercial property sales and purchases, calculated as a percentage of the transaction value with tiered rates ranging from 2% for properties up to €500,000 to 1.5% for properties above €5,500,000, with minimum fees starting at €2,000.
- Brokerage Commission - Rentals: Commission on rental transactions calculated as percentage of annual rent with tiered rates. For 5-year leases, rates range from 16% for rents up to €100,000 to 10% for rents above €500,000, with additional percentages for longer lease terms.
- Property Valuations: Hourly rate valuation services at €200 per hour, with additional fees for specialized appraisal work and re-valuations at 75% of standard rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Property Sales Commission - Tiered rates based on transaction value |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Property Rental Commission - Based on annual rent and lease duration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Valuation Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
DRS Makelaars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DRS Makelaars is a Dutch commercial real estate brokerage firm providing brokerage, advisory, and valuation services for offices, commercial buildings, and investment properties. Core offerings include tenant and landlord representation for leasing, acquisition and sales advisory, real estate investment consulting, professional property valuations, and workplace strategy consulting, primarily serving the Amsterdam and broader Netherlands market with select international reach.
Product overview
DRS Makelaars is a traditional commercial real estate brokerage firm offering a unified suite of property services rather than a software platform. The core offering consists of six integrated service lines: Bedrijfspand Verhuren (rental brokerage for property owners), Bedrijfspand Huren (tenant representation), Bedrijfspand Kopen (acquisition advisory), Bedrijfspand Verkopen (sales brokerage), Vastgoed Beleggen (investment advisory), and Bedrijfspand Taxatie (property valuation). These services are complemented by Werkplekstrategie (workplace strategy consulting). The firm also operates Deskfinder, a co-founded online office search platform, and maintains a digital property listings portal. All services focus on the Dutch commercial real estate market, primarily Amsterdam and surrounding regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bedrijfspand Verhuren (Commercial Property Rental Brokerage) Brokerage service for commercial property owners seeking to lease out offices and business premises, matching the right tenant with the right property.
- Bedrijfspand Huren (Commercial Property Tenant Representation) Tenant representation service finding suitable commercial space based on location, size, and aesthetic requirements, with advice on rental agreements.
- Bedrijfspand Kopen (Commercial Property Acquisition Advisory) Acquisition advisory guiding buyers through the entire commercial property purchase process.
- Bedrijfspand Verkopen (Commercial Property Sales Brokerage) Sales brokerage supporting property owners in selling commercial real estate with strategic guidance.
- Vastgoed Beleggen (Real Estate Investment Advisory) Investment advisory specializing in commercial real estate opportunities with international knowledge for returns and value growth.
- Bedrijfspand Taxatie (Commercial Property Valuation) Professional valuation services providing accurate market assessments for commercial properties, supporting sales, purchases, financing, and strategic decisions, charged at €200 per hour.
- Werkplekstrategie (Workplace Strategy Consulting) Strategic consulting helping organizations intelligently design and utilize workspace to align with how employees work and collaborate.
- Deskfinder Online Office Search Platform Online office search platform co-founded by DRS, helping companies and professionals find suitable workspace digitally.
Quantifiable outcome
- DRS achieved rental premium positioning in the Amsterdam market, with prime locations commanding approximately €590 per m² annually.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use DRS Makelaars
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DRS Makelaars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DRS Makelaars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, flagship and regional.
- JLLminorCommercial real estate services firm. DRS collaborated with JLL on the rental of 2,447 m² to LucidChart in Noortse Bosch, Amsterdam.
- DeskfindercoreDRS is a founding partner of Deskfinder, an online office platform that helps companies and professionals search for the perfect workplace. This partnership provides DRS with digital reach and an online channel for property listings.
- GeraldEveflagshipAward-winning international real estate consultancy and one of the largest independent real estate consultants in Europe. Strongly growing and active worldwide. DRS collaborates with GeraldEve for international transactions.
- Lee & AssociatescoreRenowned global player in commercial real estate. DRS partners with Lee & Associates for international commercial real estate advisory services.
- NadorpregionalRegional real estate partner for the Greater The Hague region, part of the Deskfinder partner network.
- Ans de WijnregionalReal estate partner for the Greater Utrecht and Rotterdam regions, part of the Deskfinder partner network.
- De MikregionalReal estate advisor for the Rotterdam region, part of the Deskfinder partner network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DRS Makelaars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Savills: International real estate advisor with strong UK and European presence. Direct overlap with DRS's commercial office agency and investment advisory services; Max Haanraadts previously worked in Savills' Amsterdam rental team.
- JLL: Global commercial real estate services firm. DRS co-brokered a deal with JLL on the LucidChart lease, and Yanti Rabelink joined DRS from JLL — JLL is the most direct large-scale incumbent competing for the same Dutch enterprise occupier mandates that DRS serves.
- CBRE: World's largest commercial real estate services firm with agency leasing, investment sales, valuation and advisory capabilities. Head-to-head competitor for premium Amsterdam office mandates and institutional investor clients.
- Knight Frank: International real estate consultancy with established Amsterdam office. Provides commercial agency, investment advisory and valuation services overlapping with DRS's core offerings, particularly for cross-border investor clients.
- Cushman & Wakefield: Global CRE services firm operating across agency, valuation and investment advisory. Competes directly with DRS for Dutch office and investment mandates at the enterprise end of the market, offering similar service lines at much larger scale.
- Colliers: Global CRE services and investment firm. Operates in the Dutch market with similar service offerings (agency, valuation, investment advisory), competing for enterprise and investor clients in Amsterdam and beyond.
Direct peers
- Lee & Associates: Global commercial real estate brokerage network and DRS's international partner. Closely aligned business model — owner-led brokerage with full-service agency, investment sales and occupier services — making it a structurally comparable peer.
- Gerald Eve: UK-headquartered independent real estate consultancy and one of DRS's strategic international partners. Provides the same core commercial real estate advisory services (office agency, investment, valuation) and is a model for the kind of independent, owner-led CRE firm DRS aspires to globally.
- G&S Vastgoed: Dutch commercial real estate advisory firm where DRS's Senior Real Estate Advisor Yanti Rabelink previously worked. Closely comparable Amsterdam-based CRE brokerage serving enterprise and investor clients with overlapping service lines.
Others
- DTZ Zadelhoff: Historic Dutch CRE services firm (now part of Cushman & Wakefield) where DRS's CEO Thomas van der Heijden and senior advisor Patrick Kok previously worked. Functions as a talent pipeline and historical reference point for DRS's own service model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DRS Makelaars social profiles
Digital presenceDRS Makelaars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DRS Makelaars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
DRS Makelaars subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DRS Makelaars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DRS Makelaars M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DRS Makelaars
What does DRS Makelaars do?
DRS Makelaars is a Dutch commercial real estate brokerage firm providing brokerage, advisory, and valuation services for offices, commercial buildings, and investment properties. Core offerings include tenant and landlord representation for leasing, acquisition and sales advisory, real estate investment consulting, professional property valuations, and workplace strategy consulting, primarily serving the Amsterdam and broader Netherlands market with select international reach.
Is DRS Makelaars a public or private company?
DRS Makelaars is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was DRS Makelaars founded?
DRS Makelaars was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DRS Makelaars based?
DRS Makelaars is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does DRS Makelaars make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brokerage Commission - Sales are the primary driver. The others are brokerage Commission - Rentals and property Valuations.
Who are DRS Makelaars's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Savills, JLL, CBRE, Knight Frank, Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers. Direct peers are Lee & Associates, Gerald Eve and G&S Vastgoed. DTZ Zadelhoff is listed as an others.
Does DRS Makelaars have an API?
No public API is recorded for DRS Makelaars.