The Netherlands’ M&A market has been booming in recent months, but one deal in particular has captivated the corporate market: the fight for banking giant ABN Amro.

“By far the most high-profile deal of the year was ABN Amro – its volume and complexity made it exceptional,” says Jan Erik Janssen, a former Allen & Overy (A&O) partner now at local independent firm Stek and seasoned observer of the Netherlands market.