About

Ruben Held is an Associate within the Capital Markets division of Cushman & Wakefield and a member of the Specialist Markets team. Based in Amsterdam, he advises domestic and international property owners, investors, corporates, financial institutions, and operators on complex real estate transactions across a range of alternative and operational real estate sectors.

His expertise covers Healthcare, Hospitality, Data Centres, Leisure, Parking, and Infrastructure, where real estate performance is closely linked to operational activities, tenant quality, and contractual structures. With more than ten years of experience in the real estate sector and involvement in transactions exceeding €1 billion in aggregate value, Ruben helps clients navigate investment opportunities and strategic decisions throughout the real estate lifecycle.

Ruben advises on investment acquisitions and disposals, sale-and-leaseback transactions, development projects, and transactions involving both individual assets and large-scale portfolios. He supports clients from initial strategy and asset positioning through to investor outreach, bid management, negotiations, due diligence, and transaction completion.

Within the Hospitality and Healthcare sectors, Ruben also advises clients on operator selection, helping identify the right operating partners and structuring lease agreements, management agreements, and operating agreements that align with commercial objectives and long-term asset performance.

By combining sector-specific expertise with a strong understanding of investment markets, operations, and transaction structures, Ruben helps clients unlock value, manage risk, and achieve sustainable financial and strategic outcomes. Clients value his ability to translate complex commercial, operational, and contractual considerations into clear and actionable transaction strategies.

My Team

The Specialist Markets team within Capital Markets is based in Amsterdam and advises clients across the Netherlands on transactions involving operational and alternative real estate sectors. Our specialists combine expertise in real estate transactions, investment analysis, and operational business models, enabling us to assess both the real estate asset and the underlying drivers of value.

This integrated approach allows us to evaluate tenant or operator performance, contractual structures, development potential, and opportunities for rental growth, repositioning, value creation, and redevelopment. As a result, we help clients make informed investment and strategic decisions throughout the asset lifecycle.

We advise a broad range of stakeholders, including investors, operators, developers, corporates, owner-occupiers, financial institutions, and public-sector organisations. By combining deep local market knowledge with Cushman & Wakefield's global network, we provide access to both domestic and international investors, operators, and occupiers.

For each assignment, we tailor the market approach to the asset type, sector dynamics, and investment objectives. Whether a transaction requires a regional, national, or international strategy, our goal is to connect clients with the right counterparties and deliver the best possible outcome.

Clients

• Institutional investors
• Real Estate Investment Managers (REIMs)
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
• Private equity firms
• Family offices
• Private investors
• Hotel operators
• Healthcare operators
• Corporates and non-profit organisations
• Owner-occupiers
• Public-sector organisations
• Real estate developers
• Lenders and banks

Areas of Specialization

• Strategic transaction advisory and transaction structuring
• Investment sales and acquisitions
• Sale-and-leaseback transactions
• Individual assets and real estate portfolios
• Asset deals and real estate-related share deals
• Operator and tenant selection within i.a. Hospitality and Healthcare
• Structuring and negotiation of lease, management and operating agreements
• Development, repositioning and redevelopment projects
• Structured bidding processes and off-market transactions
• Real estate auctions, including forced sales

Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Management, Economy and Law (2011)

Community Involvement

• Part of Cushman & Wakefield PACT (Parents & Caregivers Together)