A false alarm. It seemed harmless at first. On a November Saturday in 2024, Danka Saija heard a sharp beep echoing through the corridors of Forvis Mazars. Two workmen were tinkering in the meter cupboard. “Nothing to worry about,” she thought. But when she called the monitoring centre out of routine, the truth hit: the fire alarm was blaring for a reason. The workmen confirmed it—there really was a fire on the top floor. When Saija contacted the fire brigade, the response came: “Ah, it’s at your place. We’d already detected smoke in the area.”

The top floor was devastated; ceilings collapsed, walls and furniture damaged. The old office, perched on Lange Vijverberg with a view of the Binnenhof, also housed an art collection. “Thankfully, our neighbours at Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder helped us by temporarily storing all the paintings. It was quite a sight: people coming and going with artworks under their arms. But the collection remained completely intact,” Saija recalls.

“We’ve been through worse,” jokes Mike Vrijmoed. Like Saija and Bianca de Kroon, he is a partner at Forvis Mazars.

“And now we’re here,” says De Kroon. “A new office in a stunning location. You could say we’ve risen from the ashes.”

Bianca de Kroon (left), Mike Vrijmoed and Danka Saija are partners at Forvis Mazars.

Supporting wealthy families

Forvis Mazars operates in over a hundred countries, specialising in audit & assurance, outsourcing, tax, advisory, and consulting. At Lange Voorhout 78, clients can access expert tax and civil law advice on family wealth, guiding them through key life events: marriage, divorce, death, immigration, emigration, and generational wealth transfer.

Originally, the partners worked in Rotterdam. Their connection began in university: Sonneveldt and De Kroon now teach the master’s course on Succession Law & Estate Planning at Leiden University. “Mike and Danka were keen students. That’s how they joined Forvis Mazars. Eventually, we all moved to The Hague in 2011,” says De Kroon.

Vrijmoed adds: “The idea for a Hague office came from Frans Sonneveldt and Mark Lucas Luijckx. They wanted a place where tax expertise in family wealth converges and where the complete support of wealthy families is central. Frans, now ‘of counsel’, remains actively involved, as does Mark, who also serves on the Dutch board of Forvis Mazars.”

Saija continues: “We do this because we’re genuinely passionate about the work and enjoy passing that on. Like Bianca, I teach part-time at Leiden University. Together, we complement each other perfectly. Bianca keeps us up to date with technical developments, Mike drives business development and new services, and I focus on team growth and development.”

The Ferrari complex

“There’s much involved in transferring wealth,” says De Kroon. “Our work has a hard side and a soft side. The hard side covers tax and legal guidance to protect assets, understanding complex regulations. When family interests span multiple countries, it’s a real puzzle. Aligning everything to avoid double taxation can be like advanced mathematics. That’s where our personal advice comes in.”

The soft side? De Kroon smiles. “Ever watched the TV series Succession? Mandatory viewing here. Inheriting millions, marriages, divorces—it can get complicated.”

“Absolutely,” adds Vrijmoed. “Wealth transfer can trigger all sorts of dynamics. Take the so-called Ferrari complex: parents want to pass on assets but ensure their children remain motivated, not spending everything on Ferraris and champagne. There are ways to strike that balance, keeping the next generation’s drive alive.”

Global network – local expertise

With over 40,000 professionals worldwide, Forvis Mazars can draw on a vast pool of specialised knowledge. This is a major advantage, as wealthy families are often internationally active.

“When a client approaches us,” says Vrijmoed, “we look at the full picture. If they’re a director-shareholder, we analyse the entire corporate structure, all subsidiaries, all assets. What’s private and what’s business? Which countries are involved? Which laws apply? How do you structure everything optimally? And one of our clients’ main questions: how and when should the business or family wealth be passed on to the next generation?”

The office at Lange Voorhout 78 provides tax and civil law advice on family assets.

Looking ahead

“Every family is different,” says De Kroon. “We provide bespoke, discreet advice and comprehensive support. Our new office has a homely feel, which suits the personal nature of family wealth discussions.”

Lange Voorhout 78 looks to the future: the historic building has been modernised with a heat pump and a solar-panelled roof. At the rear, a large garden offers a sunny space for inspiration.

“We have a talented, motivated team looking forward,” says Saija. “We have the ambition and the space to grow.”

Vrijmoed concludes: “Like our clients, we know that looking ahead is essential.”

www.forvismazars.com/nl