Interview Bart Keizers
'The land price of the neighbors is not the only thing that matters'
123Huurgrond mediates in the letting and renting of land in Flevoland. It is a concept that does not occur elsewhere in the Netherlands. Why is a broker necessary for leased land?
Bart Keizers, the owner and founder of 123Huurgrond, talks about the company and how it works in a market where there is a huge demand for land.
Land is usually rented out among each other, what is your added value?
"The most important thing I do is mediation. Suppose a landlord wants to rent out his land, then he often only looks at the prices that the neighbors receive. He then asks the same amount from his tenant. However, I come throughout Flevoland and know so better what the land is worth (both for the tenant and the landlord). I am often better in the matter of prices, compared to the average arable farmer. In addition, I have the network to bring tenants and landlords together."
How is the process going?
"A landlord approaches me and I then look for suitable tenants. These tenants are generally arable farmers who want to rent land or tulip growers. It is important to me that the tenants have their company nearby. I then let them use the land I feed that back to the landlord, after which he determines who can rent the land. The process is free of charge for the landlord, because there is little land and there are many tenants."
Land is in high demand, while there are relatively few landlords. Is that network necessary?
"I can sometimes find land for those who are looking for land. I can also help the landlords through that network, because in this way I can let several tenants look at the land. Not only the price of the tenant is leading. , but also how people get along, so I also play a role in that."
"There is less planting material for tulips this year, which means that land for tulip cultivation is cancelled. I can then help the landlords to rent out the land after all. This is because I have more contacts. There is also the most demand for potato land, but that is not very present in this province. Farmers often use that land for potato cultivation themselves."
Can social media sideline you in bringing supply and demand together?
"When I look at the arable sector, it is largely conservative. The arable farmer finds personal contact important, especially because it involves considerable amounts. I also help when supply and demand have already been brought together. For example, I also regularly mediate neighbors rent them out to each other. I then relieve the burden of the administration and, for example, when measuring the land."
123Huurgrond has now been in existence for 4 years, how is it going now?
"Things are going well. My limitation is mainly the amount of land that is available. Still, I see plenty of opportunities. For older farmers who own a lot of land, it is more attractive to keep and rent out land (instead of selling and not paying any interest). receive)."
"The reason I started in Flevoland is because the land here is very suitable for rental. The quality is good, which creates a lot of demand. There are also a relatively large number of arable farmers here. This group prefers to rent land, where a dairy farmer mainly rents out land."
Anne-Jan Doorn
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