XPartners Acquires RYSE to Expand Real Estate Advisory in Netherlands

XPartners Group AB, a leading European engineering and design consulting group backed by Axcel, has acquired RYSE, a Dutch consultancy specializing in real estate advisory and project management within the built environment. This acquisition represents XPartners’ first expansion outside the Nordic region, establishing a foothold in the Netherlands.

Founded in 2013 with roots dating back to 1949, RYSE operates from offices in Utrecht and Groningen. The company employs approximately 80 professionals and generated revenues of around EUR 17 million in 2025. RYSE provides advisory and project management services across the full lifecycle of real estate and urban development projects, including strategy, planning, execution, follow-up, and governance.

RYSE’s client base spans public sector institutions, private property owners, and commercial clients. Its projects cover new developments and renovations in sectors such as public real estate, commercial premises, healthcare, and education—areas where long-term planning and robust project governance are critical.

According to Driss Aarab, founder and CEO of RYSE, “We are proud of the company we have built and look forward to growing further with XPartners. This partnership offers excellent conditions to develop our organisation while preserving the qualities that have driven our success. I am excited to take on a broader role as Managing Director for XPartners in the Netherlands alongside my CEO duties at RYSE.”

CEO of XPartners, [Name Redacted], commented, “RYSE is a well-run specialist consultancy with a strong local position and a methodology that aligns well with our decentralized model. This acquisition is a significant step in establishing a Dutch platform, which we intend to grow by adding more specialist firms in real estate and the built environment. RYSE’s entrepreneurial approach and local expertise will be instrumental in this expansion.”

XPartners brings together over 2,000 specialists across more than 70 entrepreneur-led companies, advising clients in infrastructure, buildings, energy, and environmental sectors. The group reported pro forma annual revenues exceeding SEK 4.0 billion and is primarily employee-owned, with backing from private equity firm Axcel.

The acquisition is expected to generate synergies through cross-selling services to existing Nordic clients and leveraging RYSE’s local relationships to expand XPartners’ footprint in the Netherlands. Operational efficiencies will arise from shared administrative functions, procurement economies of scale, and standardized methodologies across the group.

Market analysts note that this move strengthens XPartners’ position as a pan-European consultancy in real estate advisory and project management. It also intensifies competition in the Dutch market, potentially accelerating consolidation among local consultancies seeking to maintain market share.

Looking ahead, XPartners plans to build a robust Dutch platform by acquiring additional specialist firms, enhancing service offerings through combined Nordic-Dutch expertise, and fostering knowledge exchange between teams. Integration challenges include maintaining RYSE’s local brand and operational autonomy while aligning with group governance, as well as managing cultural differences across regions.

Regulatory approvals and integration processes are underway, with XPartners aiming to leverage this acquisition to deliver enhanced continuity, capacity, and quality to clients facing increasingly complex real estate challenges in the Netherlands.