Willem Van der Werf has significant expertise in the areas of construction, real estate, and government. Political and administrative authorities’ interests frequently play a large role in his practice. In particular, when it concerns development and transformation of a geographical area where public as well as private parties are involved. Willem’s experience enables him to look beyond just the legal aspects of a matter and to assess related political and administrative law risks. By maintaining good and effective relations with the competent authorities, and by being cognisant of the context of administrative authorities, he achieves effective solutions for his clients.

Willem specialises in urban and spatial planning, real estate, municipalities’ right of first refusal, long-term ground lease and lease. In addition, he advises and guides municipalities on expropriation proceedings from beginning to completion. Willem is also experienced in addressing questions of law in the area of public administration, such as accessibility and integrity. He lectures at a number of educational institutions and is a member of the editorial board of the Dutch Journal of Agricultural Law (Tijdschrift voor Agrarisch Recht).

Industry focus

• Government
• Real Estate

Areas of expertise

• Constitutional and administrative law
• Construction law
• Land acquisition and exploitation
• Liability and damages
• Procurement and state aid
• Real Estate
• Spatial planning and environmental law

Experience

Willem advises on developing and transforming geographical areas. And where needed, litigating on behalf of his clients. In addition to his know-how and expertise in the area of spatial planning administrative law, Willem is experienced in the area of expropriation law, land allocation agreements, long-term ground lease conditions and long-term ground lease agreements.

A few examples from Willem’s practice include:

• Advising and litigating for municipalities in the greater Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht metropolitan area concerning relevant zoning plans and expropriation needed for the redevelopment of the greenhouse districts and for the development of a residential area of 3,400 homes;
• Advising and litigating for a real estate developer, one of the largest in the Netherlands, in relation to property development in the greater Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht metropolitan area;
• Advising a municipality on the redevelopment of a large-scale hotel complex in Noordwijk;
• Chairman of the advisory committee of the Dutch Forestry Service concerning the long-term ground lease of approximately 325 recreational homes on various Wadden Islands;
• Judicial expert at the Court of ’s-Hertogenbosch in matters between a water board and 14 long-term ground lease holders in Zeeland;
• Adviser to Natuurmonumenten on various large-scale transformations of geographical areas from former quarries and factories to recreational areas and nature preserves.

Awards

• Chambers Public Law and Planning & Environment;
• Legal 500 2019 Environment and Planning (Tier 1): “…Van der Feltz Advocaten is recommended not only for its 'up-to-date knowledge' but also for its 'honest advice and friendly manner'. It offers an impressive range of expertise across permitting, environmental, zoning and health and safety issues in respect of constructions…”;
• Legal 500 Real Estate Tier 4: “Especially strong in development and administrative law, Van der Feltz advocaten’s department counts Vorm, Heijmans Vastgoed and various municipalities among its clients. Group head Willem van der Werf advised Vereniging Natuurmonumenten on its acquisition and transformation of Sibelco and Heidelberg Cement’s sand and marl quarries”.

Professional associations

• Member of the editorial board of the Dutch Journal of Agricultural Law (Tijdschrift voor Agrarisch Recht)
• Member of the Dutch Association for Construction Law Lawyers (Vereniging voor Bouwrechtadvocaten)
• Member of the Dutch Association of Expropriation Law Lawyers (Vereniging van Onteigeningsrecht Advocaten)