On October 2nd, we hosted the second session “Social impact & Net-zero housing” of our Community of Practice: Addressing Challenges in the Dutch Real Estate Sector. These gatherings bring together institutional asset owners, asset managers, and experts in real estate impact investing to discuss practical solutions to the most pressing issues facing the sector today. 

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Real estate has enormous potential to drive environmental and social transformation, both within the Netherlands and globally. Yet, the sector remains heavily reliant on traditional, carbon-intensive practices. The industry stands at a turning point that calls for fundamental change. At the same time, the persistent housing shortage in the Netherlands and abroad requires innovative approaches to construction that are not only more sustainable but also faster and more cost-efficient.  

Ensuring access to affordable housing remains a key priority for an inclusive and resilient society. 

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Biobased Materials  

The session opened with a keynote by Tamara Streefland (Built by Nature), who highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable building practices based on biobased materials, particularly timber. She underlined how these materials can deliver superior performance in terms of carbon capture and storage over the long term. Scaling up their use is essential, but the process itself must follow responsible guidelines. The Principles for Responsible Timber Production were presented as a framework to ensure sustainable growth. 

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Despite persistent barriers in regulation, supply chains, costs, and technical feasibility, the sector is evolving, and momentum is building. The growing recognition of embodied carbon metrics was seen as a clear signal of progress by both speakers and participants. 

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Climate Resilience 

Following the keynote, the first panel explored the theme of climate resilience and path to net-zero, featuring Bruno Besek (NN Group), Gerben Sinke (a.s.r. Real Estate), and Thomas van Rompaey (AXA IM Alts). 

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Panellists discussed how translating impact mandates into concrete real estate investments remains complex. Sustainable building is possible, yet it continues to depend on production systems that must evolve. Building on the keynote, they examined how biobased materials and low-carbon construction practices can be integrated into standardised frameworks. 

Participants called for the creation of a common language for adaptation and resilience. Shared standards would enable comparability and a level playing field for global investors. Reference was made to the role of GRESB, CRREM, and PCRAM in benchmarking and assessing progress on mitigation and adaptation, especially in addressing physical climate risks. 

The conversation highlighted that vast data sets and inconsistent risk models often slow down progress. In such cases, speakers agreed that taking a practical, ground-level approach is vital to achieve impact. Impact and decarbonisation in real estate are deeply interconnected, with meaningful effects often spilling over into other asset classes such as the energy transition. As one panellist noted, There is no such thing as a sustainable building without sustainable energy. 

 

Investing with Purpose 

After a short break, Nicole Maarsen (Independent Advisor, former Board Member at Achmea Real Estate) took the stage to discuss the importance of investing with purpose and moving beyond a mindset of avoiding harm. She observed that while environmental investing is well established, a growing shift is taking place toward strategies that also address social impact. 

Affordable housing, she stressed, must be shaped into a viable and investible business case. Gentrification, when managed responsibly, can create both financial returns and social value. Therefore, social value can be considered as the new alpha.  

While concepts like affordability and liveability enjoy broad support, they must be translated into measurable strategies. Even though investing in unproven models can be challenging, this space represents a major opportunity for institutional investors. 

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The Future of Care-Oriented and Community Housing 

The second panel, with Steve Goossens (APG AM), Daan Tettero (Achmea RE), Jorrit Arissen (Van Lanschot Kempen IM), and Niek Pot (Ministerie van VRO), focused on the intersection between social and care-oriented housing. 

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Discussions began with the observation that providing adequate housing for seniors could be one of the most effective ways to alleviate the broader housing crisis. Supporting seniors to downsize into specialised housing could free up larger family homes, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the market. ​The panellists expressed varying views on whether sufficient momentum already exists in this segment. They emphasised the critical role of government and municipalities in facilitating investment, particularly through zoning and land cost policies.  

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Among the housing types discussed, care-oriented housing was seen as the most pressing need, followed by community-based housing. However, the latter faces a specific challenge: the lack of consistent social metrics to measure well-being, happiness, and loneliness. The speakers called for more research into the social outcomes of community-based living. 

Participants also noted that better use of the existing housing stock is essential. Reinventing spaces for shared or community-oriented living can deliver social benefits without requiring constant new construction. Nonetheless, retrofitting remains difficult for investors from both a financial and regulatory perspective, as highlighted during the first Community of Practice session on May 14th. 

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The discussion concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between public and private actors. Panellists agreed that harmonising and standardising definitions and metrics is an essential next step to scale investment in this sector. 

 

Final Reflections and Key Takeaways 

The speakers closed by identifying three practical priorities to move forward: 

a. Focus on total cost of living rather than rent levels alone, ensuring that projects remain feasible. 

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b. Change the narrative, linking sustainability and affordability as two inseparable goals. 

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c. Strengthen government engagement and dialogue with investors to create a supportive enabling environment. 

 

The discussions reinforced that net zero and climate resilience must advance together. Frameworks are evolving, but progress is still uneven. Translating ambition into measurable outcomes requires shared definitions, transparent reporting, and stronger cooperation among investors, managers, municipalities, and government bodies. Only by combining intentionality, long-term strategy, and cross-sector collaboration can the Dutch real estate sector unlock the capital, innovation, and partnerships required to build a market that is sustainable, inclusive, affordable, and resilient. 

 

Looking Ahead 

Looking ahead, the Community of Practice on Real Estate will continue its work in the coming weeks through follow-up conversations and interviews that will help shape a final report. This publication will synthesise the key findings, perspectives, and case studies gathered during the first two sessions, enriched by additional expert input and stakeholder conversations. The report aims to provide a clear overview of emerging trends, practical examples, and actionable recommendations to accelerate impact across the Dutch real estate sector. 

 

The third and final session, taking place on December 9th, will be open to a broader audience. During this event, we will present the main conclusions of the report and invite participants to engage in an open dialogue on how to translate insights into collective action. It will serve as both a culmination and a new beginning, marking the transition from shared learning to shared implementation within the Dutch impact real estate community. 

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If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to our colleague and Director of the 10% Target Program - Simona Benvenuti here.