Lines of credit (Details) (EUR €) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Available credit facility	€ 500.0	€ 500.0
Line of credit (Textual) [Abstract]
Revolving credit facility maturity year	2015
Minimum committed capital to net total assets ratio to be maintained Under Credit Facility	40.00%
Committed capital to net assets ratio under Credit facility	85.80%	87.70%
Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Available credit facility	500.0
Interest rate description	will bear interest at EURIBOR or LIBOR plus a margin that depends on our liquidity position
Amount outstanding under credit facility	€ 0	€ 0

Committed capital to net assets ratio under Credit facility.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Minimum committed capital to net total assets ratio to be maintained under credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Revolving credit facility maturity year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant