Local
Local (Local Development) is a Dutch boutique real estate developer founded in 2008 and headquartered in The Hague, specializing in urban transformation and bio-based residential projects using CLT timber construction. It serves municipalities, housing corporations, and home buyers across Western Netherlands, and was acquired by VORM in June 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersDen Haag, Netherlands
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Local does
Local (legal name: Local Development) is a Dutch boutique real estate development company founded in 2008 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The company specializes in urban transformation and sustainable residential development, with a portfolio of named projects across Western Netherlands including Binck Eiland (222 units, Haagse Woonprijs 2023 winner), BoogieWood (702 units, the largest modular CLT residential project in the Netherlands), Roof Garden Amsterdam (236 units, 70% affordable), Park Heuvellaan Hilversum, Villawal Nieuwegein, Koningin Sophiestraat, and Hart 010 Rotterdam. Local's technical differentiation is built on bio-based construction using cross-laminated timber (CLT), circular development practices (98% reuse of the former SDU office at Binck Eiland), and Paris Proof sustainability standards (CO2 footprint under 100kg/m2). Its core technology base is modular, dismantlable wood construction executed with specialist partners such as Barentsz and Hamlet Design+Build Technology.
Local's business model is project-based real estate development: it identifies complex inner-city sites, secures zoning and permits, assembles co-developers, architects, and contractors, and delivers residential units via two channels — direct sale to end-buyers (homeowners, starters, families) through project-specific sales offices, and bulk turnkey delivery to social housing corporations (Haag Wonen, Lieven de Key) and institutional owners (Amvest). Its go-to-market combines long-term institutional partnerships managed at owner level (Arnout van Kessel, Phlip Boswinkel), direct sales offices for B2C unit sales, and event-driven community engagement with future residents during design. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated on a one-time basis per unit delivered. With approximately 12 employees (as of February 2023), Local operates as a high-leverage boutique developer. The company was acquired by Rotterdam-based VORM effective June 1, 2025, with the founders pivoting to focus on their own investments.
Local firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Local
- Legal name
- Local Development
- Website
- https://local.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Local (Local Development) is a Dutch boutique real estate developer founded in 2008 and headquartered in The Hague, specializing in urban transformation and bio-based residential projects using CLT timber construction. It serves municipalities, housing corporations, and home buyers across Western Netherlands, and was acquired by VORM in June 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Local industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Real Estate Development
- NAICS
- New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Residential Building Construction (23611)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)
Keywords
Where Local is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Den Haag
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Local business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Real Estate Development - Residential Sales: Development and sale of residential apartments, maisonnettes, terraced houses, and penthouses to private buyers. Revenue generated from unit sales at market prices. Projects include Roof Garden Amsterdam (236 units, 70% affordable), Koningin Sophiestraat (67 units with Amvest), Villawal Nieuwegein (72 units), and others.
- Social and Mid-Rent Housing to Housing Corporations: Bulk delivery of social rental and mid-rent homes to housing corporations (Haag Wonen, Lieven de Key) via turnkey (turnkey-realistatie) agreements. Revenue from large-scale off-plan purchase contracts. E.g., 80 social rental units to Lieven de Key at Roof Garden; 293 affordable rental units to Haag Wonen at BoogieWood.
- Office-to-Residential Transformation: Transformation of obsolete office buildings into residential developments. Revenue from completed residential projects sold to buyers or housing corporations. Circular approach: reusing existing structures reduces development cost.
- Development Strategy Consulting: Local was commissioned by Van den Berg & Demag to develop a spatial development strategy for their office building at Fruitweg, generating advisory/strategy fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Affordable segment - 70% of units at Roof Garden Amsterdam |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Premium segment - 12 villas and 12 apartments at Park Heuvellaan Hilversum |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Local product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Local Development is a Dutch urban real estate developer that conceives, designs and delivers residential and mixed-use projects across major Dutch cities. The company specializes in bio-based (CLT cross-laminated timber) construction, Paris Proof sustainability, and circular development — converting obsolete offices and industrial sites into sustainable housing. It sells homes directly to private buyers and delivers bulk tranches of social and mid-rent housing to Dutch housing corporations under turnkey agreements.
Product overview
Local is a Dutch real estate development company (Local Development) specializing in urban transformation and residential development projects across the Netherlands. Their portfolio consists of multiple named real estate projects rather than a unified software product. Projects include residential complexes (Roof Garden Amsterdam, Binck Eiland, BoogieWood, Park Heuvellaan, Villawal), urban redevelopment (Hart 010 Rotterdam), and building conversions (Koningin Sophiestraat, Maanweg 58, Brokking). The company focuses on sustainable, bio-based construction methods including CLT timber building, circular economy practices, and Paris Proof sustainability standards. Projects are developed in partnership with housing corporations, municipalities, and co-developers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Roof Garden Amsterdam A 236-unit residential complex in Amsterdam's Sloterdijk Stationskwartier consisting of four architecturally distinct buildings connected by a communal rooftop garden. Designed by Next Architects. 70% of homes are in the affordable segment; one building uses full cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction. Housing corporation Lieven de Key purchases 80 social rental homes. Targeted at young families, starters, and middle-income households.
- Park Heuvellaan Hilversum A 100% bio-based, Paris Proof residential development on the park-like Heuvellaan location in Hilversum, replacing a former VARA office with 12 detached villas and 12 apartments built in sustainable timber by CLT specialist Barentsz, restoring the original residential character of the area. Targeted at affluent buyers seeking sustainable premium housing.
- Binck Eiland Den Haag A mixed-use residential development in The Hague's Binckhorst area comprising three parts: De Binck (73 office-to-residential units from the former SDU building), Binck Plaats (46 family homes around a courtyard), and Binck Kade (103 apartments along the Trekvliet canal) — 222 units in total. Achieves 98% reuse of the former SDU office, a climate-adaptive 5,500 m² communal garden, and 1,100% greening versus the original site. Winner of the Haagse Woonprijs 2023. Developed with VORM and BPD | Bouwfonds Gebiedsontwikkeling.
- BoogieWood Den Haag The largest modular CLT (cross-laminated timber) residential project in the Netherlands, comprising 702 homes stacked in nine CLT layers on an elevated plinth above an existing parking basement. Phase 1 includes 293 affordable rental homes for housing corporation Haag Wonen. Paris Proof certified with CO₂ footprint under 100 kg/m². Co-developed with VORM and Haag Wonen; designed by OZ architect and De Zwarte Hond with modular building system by Hamlet Design+Build Technology.
- Koningin Sophiestraat Den Haag (The Sophie) A 67-unit (~7,000 m²) residential building in The Hague's Bezuidenhout district, transforming a former office into single-family homes with gardens, maisonettes and apartments with large terraces. Existing 6 m × 3 m facade elements from demolished upper floors were disassembled whole and reused in the lower section to preserve visual unity. Developed in partnership with Trebbe and sold to Amvest.
- Villawal Nieuwegein Conversion of 13 office villas on an existing parking deck into 72 residential homes (~7,000 m²) in Nieuwegein. Retains high ceilings and large windows of the original office villas and targets both elderly residents (ground floor) and starters (upper floors) at affordable local prices, creating a residential courtyard with green space.
- Hart 010 Rotterdam A major urban redevelopment at the Coolsingel-Westblaak corner and Beurs metro station in Rotterdam city centre. Includes a metro station renovation with a large new Coolsingel entrance, transformation of the Coolse Poort office building, and a new 200-metre tower. The plan delivers over 550 homes plus hotel, co-working, offices, retail and hospitality. Designed by Mecanoo with the Gemeente Rotterdam.
- Brokking Zaandam / Wormerveer Transformation of a former 1930s feed factory in Wormerveer into a residential neighbourhood that respects industrial heritage. The original factory complex is being converted to apartments with approximately 100 newbuild homes around the waterfront. Local advised owner Paulowna Beheer and partnered with De Nijs Projectontwikkeling, which took over further development and construction after Local secured the rezoning.
- Maanweg 58 Den Haag A pocket-square development at the Maanweg in The Hague's Binckhorst area, planned as part of a larger area-passport initiative. Includes a pub, supporting facilities and apartments, positioned at the future cycling bridge crossing to Voorburg.
- Development Strategy Consulting (Fruitweg Den Haag) Spatial development strategy and renovation concept for the office building at Fruitweg in The Hague, commissioned by Van den Berg & Demag, creating 10,000 m² of commercial space and restoring vitality to the area. Generates advisory and strategy fees for Local.
Quantifiable outcome
- Binck Eiland is 1,100% greener than the original site through native planting
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Local
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Local technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Local partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- VORMcoreVORM acquired Local's activities effective 1 June 2025. The two companies had worked together since 2015 on multiple projects including Binck Eiland, BoogieWood, and Roof Garden Amsterdam. VORM and Local share a vision on bio-based building, affordability, and complex inner-city transformations. Local's work on BoogieWood was transferred to VORM as of June 2025. Local founders (Arnout van Kessel, Phlip Boswinkel) will focus on investments.
- Vink BouwmajorVink Bouw is the main contractor for Roof Garden Amsterdam, starting construction in October 2025 on the 236-unit complex with communal rooftop garden.
- Haag WonencoreHaag Wonen signed a turnkey purchase agreement for 293 affordable rental homes in BoogieWood (Phase 1), the largest modular CLT residential project in the Netherlands. Local acts as delegated developer on behalf of VORM and Haag Wonen.
- Lieven de KeycoreHousing corporation Lieven de Key purchased 80 social rental homes at Roof Garden Amsterdam for housing start-ups in the Sloterdijk Station district, contributing to a lively mixed neighbourhood.
- Riva Real EstatemajorCo-developer with Local on the Roof Garden Amsterdam project (236 homes). Vink Bouw builds in commission of Local and Riva Real Estate.
- Next ArchitectsmajorNext Architects designed the Roof Garden Amsterdam complex, creating four buildings with different architectural expressions connected by a communal rooftop garden. One building uses full CLT construction.
- Van den Berg & DemagminorLocal was commissioned by Van den Berg & Demag to develop a spatial development strategy for their office building at Fruitweg in The Hague, creating 10,000 m2 of commercial space through renovation.
- OZ architectmajorOZ architect co-designed BoogieWood with De Zwarte Hond, creating the largest wooden residential building in the Netherlands on the prominent corner of Binckhorstlaan and Mercuriusweg.
- De Zwarte HondmajorDe Zwarte Hond co-designed BoogieWood with OZ architect, creating the largest wooden residential building in the Netherlands with a raw, industrial character fitting the Binckhorst.
- Hamlet Design+Build TechnologycoreHamlet Design+Build Technology is the modular construction partner for BoogieWood, providing the innovative building system for the largest CLT residential project in the Netherlands.
- TrebbemajorTrebbe is a construction and development partner on multiple Local projects: Park Heuvellaan Hilversum (restoring cultural-historical values) and Koningin Sophiestraat (67 homes with Amvest). Also partnered on Villawal Nieuwegein (72 units).
- BPD | Bouwfonds GebiedsontwikkelingcoreBPD | Bouwfonds Gebiedsontwikkeling was co-developer with Local and VORM on Binck Eiland (222 units), the pioneering 2016 project that transformed the Binckhorst in The Hague.
- AmvestmajorAmvest is the new owner of the Koningin Sophiestraat project (The Sophie), a 67-unit residential building in The Hague's Bezuidenhout district. Local developed the project in partnership with Trebbe, then transferred ownership to Amvest.
- De Nijs ProjectontwikkelingmajorDe Nijs Projectontwikkeling took over further development and construction of the Brokking project in Wormerveer (100+ homes) after Local facilitated the rezoning process and sold the site.
- BarentszmajorBarentsz is the wood-building specialist (CLT/bio-based) for Park Heuvellaan Hilversum, enabling 100% bio-based, Paris Proof construction of 12 villas and 12 apartments.
- MecanoomajorMecanoo is the architecture firm for Hart 010, the Rotterdam city centre transformation project at the Coolsingel-Westblaak and metro station Beurs, in partnership with Local and Gemeente Rotterdam.
- Heussen Advocaten & NotarissenminorLegal advisor to Local during the acquisition of Local's activities by VORM in May 2025.
- Spaargaren AccountantsminorAccountancy advisor to Local during the acquisition of Local's activities by VORM in May 2025.
- Focus (aannemersbedrijf)minorFocus contractor disassembled and relocated the former SDU production hall from Binck Eiland to Barneveld, where it now produces circular concrete.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Local competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BAM Wonen: BAM Wonen is the residential division of Royal BAM Group, one of the largest construction groups in the Netherlands. It competes directly with Local for Dutch urban housing developments and has begun modular and sustainable construction initiatives.
- Ballast Nedam Development: Ballast Nedam is a major Dutch construction and real estate development company. Its residential development division targets similar Dutch urban infill and transformation projects as Local, with comparable sustainability ambitions.
- Heijmans: Heijmans is a large Dutch listed construction and development company with a residential development division. While broader in scope than Local, it competes for the same Dutch urban housing tenders and has increasingly adopted sustainable building practices.
- VolkerWessels: VolkerWessels is a major Dutch construction and real estate developer with residential projects across the Netherlands. While much larger than Local, it operates in the same Dutch urban residential development space and has invested in circular and timber construction.
Direct peers
- Trebbe: Trebbe is a Dutch construction and development partner that worked with Local on Park Heuvellaan, Koningin Sophiestraat, and Villawal Nieuwegein. Both companies focus on sustainable residential development and serve housing corporations and municipalities in the Netherlands.
- BPD | Bouwfonds Gebiedsontwikkeling: BPD is one of the largest Dutch area developers and a former co-developer with Local on Binck Eiland. Both focus on urban residential development in Dutch cities, with BPD providing area-level planning capabilities that complement Local's project-level focus.
- Amvest: Amvest is a Dutch residential investor and developer that purchased the 67-unit Koningin Sophiestraat "The Sophie" project from Local. It targets similar affordable and mid-rent housing segments in Dutch urban areas and operates a comparable delegated-developer model.
- De Nijs Projectontwikkeling: De Nijs is a Dutch project developer that took over the Brokking Wormerveer project from Local. Both companies operate in the residential development space with a focus on Dutch urban and inner-city projects.
- VORM: VORM is the Rotterdam-based project developer that acquired Local's activities in June 2025. It is the most directly comparable Dutch developer, focused on affordable, sustainable housing and bio-based construction, with VORM and Local having co-developed Binck Eiland, BoogieWood, and Roof Garden Amsterdam since 2015.
Emerging players
- Blokstedenthuis / BOEi: BOEi is a Dutch nonprofit specialist in heritage-sensitive urban transformation and circular construction. It shares Local's "hidden quality" approach to overlooked urban sites and operates in the office-to-residential and heritage redevelopment niches that Local also targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Local social profiles
Digital presenceLocal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Local leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Local funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Local 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 Local
What does Local do?
Local Development is a Dutch urban real estate developer that conceives, designs and delivers residential and mixed-use projects across major Dutch cities. The company specializes in bio-based (CLT cross-laminated timber) construction, Paris Proof sustainability, and circular development — converting obsolete offices and industrial sites into sustainable housing. It sells homes directly to private buyers and delivers bulk tranches of social and mid-rent housing to Dutch housing corporations under turnkey agreements.
Is Local a public or private company?
Local is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Local founded?
Local was founded in 2008. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Local based?
Local is headquartered in Den Haag, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Local make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Real Estate Development - Residential Sales are the primary driver. The others are social and Mid-Rent Housing to Housing Corporations, office-to-Residential Transformation and development Strategy Consulting.
Who are Local's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BAM Wonen, Ballast Nedam Development, Heijmans and VolkerWessels. Direct peers are Trebbe, BPD | Bouwfonds Gebiedsontwikkeling, Amvest, De Nijs Projectontwikkeling and VORM. Blokstedenthuis / BOEi is listed as an emerging player.
Does Local have an API?
No public API is recorded for Local.
What industry is Local in?
Local's product category is Residential Real Estate Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAI, Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction, with a secondary code of IMAFABAL, Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities). Its NAICS code is 236117 and its SIC code is 6552.