According to analyses by Aengevelt Research, the office market in the Düsseldorf region achieved an office take-up of almost 106,000 sq m in the first half of 2026, including owner-occupier activities. This represents a moderate decrease of 4% compared to the first half of 2025, when 110,000 sq m were transacted. The current figure is 37% below the long-term average for the first halves of the decade 2016-2025, which stood at 168,000 sq m per year. A differentiated view shows that approximately 94,000 sq m of the total take-up was attributable to the Düsseldorf city area, while the surrounding region contributed about 12,000 sq m. In the same period last year, these figures were 95,000 sq m in the city area and 15,000 sq m in the surrounding region.
In contrast to the previous year, the first half of 2026 saw one major transaction exceeding 10,000 sq m: KPMG leased approximately 17,400 sq m in the new build project 'ONE PLAZA' on Kennedydamm. Other significant leases include the approximately 4,500 sq m by architectural firm RKW Architektur + in 'KöTower' and the approximately 3,000 sq m of office space by Aspen Separation GmbH in the 'heylo' property, also on Kennedydamm in Schwannstraße.
For the full year 2026, Aengevelt Research forecasts a stable office take-up of approximately 210,000 sq m for the Düsseldorf region, comparable to the 212,000 sq m of the previous year. However, this projected figure falls short of the decade average (2016-2025: 338,500 sq m per year) by 38%. Christoph Mooren, Head of Commercial Letting at Aengevelt in Düsseldorf, explains the situation with the ongoing demand for high-quality office space in prime locations, coupled with a rise in prime rents. Companies frequently offset higher rental costs by reducing space and increasing efficiency. This underlines an increasing dichotomy in the market, where modern, marketable spaces in good locations are absorbed quickly, while vacancies are concentrated in older, qualitatively uncompetitive existing properties. He interpreted this development as a progressive market consolidation. A stabilisation of office take-up and vacancy rates, as well as a more robust market development, is expected later in the year, depending on the modernisation or repurposing of uncompetitive existing stock.
The short-term available supply reserve, ready for occupancy within three months, rose slightly to approximately 1.05 million sq m at the end of the first half of 2026, up from 1 million sq m in the first half of 2025. Accordingly, the vacancy rate increased within one year from 10.5% to currently about 11% of the total stock of approximately 9.54 million sq m. Aengevelt Research forecasts a further increase in the supply reserve to around 1.1 million sq m for the Düsseldorf region by the end of 2026. Following an above-average new build volume of 122,000 sq m in 2025, approximately 80,000 sq m of new office space is expected to be completed in Düsseldorf in 2026, which is below the decade average of 85,000 sq m per year.
Regarding rental price development, the momentum in prime rents has slowed. Compared to the same period last year, the prime rent increased by only 2%, or one euro, from approximately EUR 45/sq m to EUR 46/sq m. The average rent in city centre locations also saw an increase of one euro or 4% to EUR 26/sq m. For the remainder of the year, Aengevelt Research expects prime rents to remain stable or show a slight increase.
