Many NGOs take expensive prime office locations

A number of the large charities in the Netherlands use a large amount of money raised by donations to rent office space in expensive prime locations, according to research done by Dutch newspaper AD. Environmental organization Greenpeace spent almost half a million euros on rent in 2014. The organization also spent more than 200 thousand euros on renovating and furnishing their new office on the IJ in Amsterdam - by far the most expensive city in which to rent office space in the Netherlands. The average office rent price in the capital last year was almost 200 euros per square meter, compared to the national average of 125 euros. The Aids Fund came in second place, with more than 230 thousand euros spent on the rent of two buildings on the Keizersgracht and Herengracht in Amsterdam. Other charities to spend hundreds of thousands of euros on rent every year include Plan Nederland and the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also have offices on the Amsterdam Canals.