Question 1

What is Van Lanschot Kempen?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen is an independent, specialized wealth manager headquartered in the Netherlands. The institution provides private banking, investment management, and investment banking services to high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, institutional investors, and businesses.

With approximately €168 billion in client assets as of the end of 2024 and around 2,200 employees, Van Lanschot Kempen is recognized as one of the leading Dutch wealth managers. As the oldest independent financial institution in the Netherlands and the Benelux region, Van Lanschot Kempen has distinguished itself through its focus on sustainable investment practices and long-term wealth preservation.

Question 2

When was Van Lanschot Kempen founded?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen's history dates back to 22 July 1737, when Cornelis van Lanschot founded a trading house in 's-Hertogenbosch, making it the oldest financial institution in the Netherlands and the tenth oldest in the world. The company originally traded in colonial goods such as coffee, tea, and spices across Brabant, Limburg, and Belgian territories.

In 1799, Franciscus van Lanschot renamed the company to Firma F. van Lanschot and began offering financial services alongside trading activities. By 1881, Van Lanschot ceased trading operations entirely to focus on banking, deposit-taking, and securities trading.

The modern entity was formed in 2007 when Van Lanschot acquired Kempen & Co, an Amsterdam-based merchant bank founded in 1903 by Arines Johannes Kempen and Martinus Dirk de Lange as an independent stockbroker. The company officially adopted the name Van Lanschot Kempen N.V. in 2017 to reflect this merger. Van Lanschot Kempen shares have been listed on Euronext Amsterdam since June 1999.

Question 3

Where is Van Lanschot Kempen headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen is headquartered in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, at Hooge Steenweg 29. The company maintains additional head office facilities in the Paleiskwartier district of 's-Hertogenbosch and at the World Trade Center in Amsterdam.

Question 4

Where does Van Lanschot Kempen operate?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen operates 43 offices across 6 countries, with primary operations in the Netherlands and Belgium. Within the Netherlands, the bank has offices and client reception locations in most major cities, with significant presence in the southern and central regions.

Before 1954, operations were concentrated exclusively in 's-Hertogenbosch. The bank progressively expanded throughout the south of the Netherlands, opening offices in most large cities. In the early 1970s, it acquired several Dutch banks to strengthen its presence. During the 1980s, Van Lanschot opened offices in the centre of the Netherlands.

In 1991, Van Lanschot expanded into Belgium, where its private banking activities now operate under the brand Mercier Van Lanschot following a 2024 merger of Van Lanschot Belgium with Mercier Vanderlinden. The bank also maintains offices in Switzerland (Zurich and Geneva), focusing on wealthy Dutch and Belgian nationals.

Investment Management operates from Amsterdam, London, and Paris, while Investment Banking has offices in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Zurich, and New York.

Question 5

What services does Van Lanschot Kempen offer?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen offers a comprehensive suite of wealth management services organized into three main divisions:

Private Banking provides personalized wealth management services to six target groups: high-net-worth individuals, new wealth market entrants, entrepreneurs and family businesses, business professionals and executives, healthcare professionals, and foundations and associations. Services include investment advice, retirement planning, estate planning, and tax optimization.

Investment Management (formerly Kempen Capital Management) specializes in European and UK investment strategies for institutional clients, including high-dividend equities, fixed-income securities, funds of hedge funds, real estate, small caps, and infrastructure. As of 2024, assets under management totaled approximately €92.1 billion.

Investment Banking (formerly Kempen & Co) provides capital market transactions, debt advisory services, equity research and trading, and mergers and acquisitions services.

Digital Services: Van Lanschot Kempen offers the Van Lanschot Kempen Banking App for iOS and Android, enabling mobile banking, payment management, and digital authentication. The bank also operates Evi van Lanschot, an online investment and savings platform launched in 2013 for mass affluent clients and first-time investors in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Question 6

What makes Van Lanschot Kempen unique?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen distinguishes itself through its rich heritage as the oldest independent financial institution in the Netherlands, combined with modern sustainable investment leadership. The bank received the "Best Private Bank in the Netherlands 2024" award from PWM/The Banker.

Sustainable Investment Leadership: Van Lanschot Kempen is globally recognized for its comprehensive ESG integration and sustainable investment approach. The bank organizes sustainable investment efforts across four pillars: Exclusion, ESG Integration, Active Ownership, and Positive Impact.

Van Lanschot Kempen targets a -7% annual carbon footprint reduction and has committed to Net Zero emissions by 2050, with a 50% reduction target by 2030. In 2024, the bank conducted over 370 engagement activities with companies on environmental, social, and governance themes, and excluded 270 companies due to product involvement or conduct. The bank received an MSCI AA rating in 2022 for its sustainability practices.

Employee Ownership: Approximately 70% of employees are shareholders, creating strong alignment between staff and client interests and fostering a culture of long-term stewardship.

Independent Focus: Unlike many European wealth managers, Van Lanschot Kempen operates as an independent institution, allowing it to make strategic decisions focused on client needs rather than parent company directives. The bank emphasizes personalized service and family values despite being publicly listed.

Historical Significance: The bank's legacy includes issuing the famous "Lanschotje" coins in the early 19th century when there was a shortage of small change following the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Van Lanschot Kempen?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen N.V. is a credit institution (CRDCREINS) authorized and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank, in accordance with the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). It operates under the direct supervision of DNB as a "less significant institution" under European Banking Supervision.

As a credit institution, Van Lanschot Kempen is licensed to conduct banking activities including deposit-taking, lending, and payment services. Additionally, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten, AFM) supervises the bank's market conduct activities.

The institution functions as a specialized wealth manager, differentiating itself from universal banks by focusing exclusively on private banking, investment management, and investment banking services for affluent and institutional clients. Van Lanschot Kempen participates in the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme (NL_DGS), providing deposit protection up to €100,000 per customer. The bank holds a BBB+ long-term rating from Fitch (as of 2024), indicating good credit quality.

Question 8

How has Van Lanschot Kempen grown through acquisitions?

Accepted Answer

Van Lanschot Kempen has pursued a strategic acquisition strategy to enhance its service offerings and expand its client base. Key acquisitions include Vermeer & Co in 1959, multiple Dutch banks in the early 1970s, and most significantly, Kempen & Co in 2007, which doubled assets under management and created the foundation for the modern institution.

In 2004, Van Lanschot acquired CenE Bankiers, a financial services provider for the healthcare sector, from ING Bank N.V. More recent acquisitions include MN's UK fiduciary management business (2015), Staalbankiers' private banking business (2016), UBS's Dutch wealth management business (2017), and Hof Hoorneman Bankiers (2021).

These acquisitions have strengthened Van Lanschot Kempen's position in the Netherlands and expanded its institutional capabilities internationally. In July 2025, ING Group acquired an additional 17.6% stake in Van Lanschot Kempen, bringing ING's total shareholding to 20.3%.

Question 9

What is Van Lanschot Kempen's leadership history?

Accepted Answer

From 1737 until 1991, a member of the Van Lanschot family always served as CEO, representing over 250 years of family leadership. Jan Cees van Lanschot was the last family member to hold the position until his death in 1991.

Post-family leadership included Bert Heemskerk (1991-2002), Floris Deckers (2002-2013), Karl Guha (2013-2021), and the current CEO Maarten Edixhoven, who assumed the role in 2021. This transition from family ownership to professional management while maintaining family values and personal attention has been central to the bank's modern identity.

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