Olivier van Gool
Partner & Strategic Advisor
Olivier became the Netherlands’ first tenant advisor in 2007 when he founded Found. After eleven years of working at real estate agency Van Gool & Partners, he realized that the traditional brokerage model had a number of limitations. Driven by this conviction, he went on to establish Solved.
Olivier’s strength lies in tenant advisory services with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. This comes as no surprise, given his academic background at the European Business School in Brussels and London. He continues to develop himself in the fields of tenant advisory and entrepreneurship. Most recently, he completed a masterclass at Erasmus University focusing on topics such as strategic (re)positioning of companies.
Clients value his entrepreneurial vision, whether they are entrepreneurs themselves or are simply looking for an entrepreneurial perspective.
News items by Olivier van Gool
Successful expansion? How to approach international office housing
― As soon as you open an office in Germany, France or the United States, you will encounter local rules that differ significantly from what you are used to. This certainly applies to office accommodation.
On paper, the criteria seem the same everywhere. Accessibility, square footage, appearance, sustainability and flexibility. The negotiation topics are also familiar. Rent levels, indexation, renewal options, subletting and handover obligations come up in every country. However, the real differences lie in the details, the legal context, market practices and, above all, in the question of who is actually advising you. Especially in international office accommodation, these differences can have major financial and strategic consequences.
Subleasing: always in our client’s best interest
― In a tight office market or when workplace strategies are changing, subleasing can be a smart solution. But whose interests are really being represented?
At Parella Netherlands, we are completely transparent: when we are involved in a sublease, it is always exclusively on behalf of the tenant. Never for landlords or real estate investors. We are an independent real estate advisor dedicated solely to representing the interests of tenants and end users.
The impact of art in the office
― During PAN 2025, we were proud to be a partner of the fair and to host a substantive discussion on a topic that often remains underexposed in real estate strategies: the value of art in the office. At a time when workplaces increasingly revolve around identity, wellbeing and connection, we explored how art can genuinely contribute to these themes.
The panel discussion was moderated by Kai van Hasselt, real estate developer and member of the art committee at Ymere. Together with Sharon Oldenkotte Vrolijk, Director of Marketing & Communications at BPD Europe, and Mark Grol, affiliated with PAN Amsterdam and a specialist in corporate art collections, we discussed how art can be more than decoration: a strategic asset that enriches organisations.
The discussion made clear that art in the workplace only works when it is rooted in people, context and identity. What happens when employees are involved in the selection process? How do you prevent resistance or misinterpretation? And what does it ultimately deliver for the organisation as a whole? The insights, anecdotes and lessons shared during PAN 2025 are highlighted below.
New ROZ amendment saves non-VAT-liable tenants thousands of euros
― Recently, the model lease agreement for office space issued by the Dutch Real Estate Council (ROZ) was amended, with significant financial implications for a specific group of tenants: organizations that are not subject to VAT. These include healthcare institutions, educational organizations, non-profit organizations, and certain cultural institutions. For this group, the amendment presents a unique opportunity to structurally reduce rental costs—provided they act in a timely and strategic manner.
Whom does the real estate agent represent: you or the landlord?
― In the world of commercial real estate, corporate real estate agents play a crucial role. They not only advise real estate investors but are also invaluable to office tenants. This begs the question: how objective can these agents be in their advice to tenants, given their close ties with landlords?