More physical stores in the Netherlands; this is how things stand in Utrechtse Heuvelrug – Nieuwsblad De Kaap

April 30, 2024 at 3:22 PM

Stores

HILL RIDGE For the first time in years, physical stores have been added in the Netherlands. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) counted around 83,000 retail properties at the beginning of this year. That is about 1,100 more than in 2023. Relatively speaking, many bookstores, tobacconists and do-it-yourself stores were added. In Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the number of physical stores fell slightly: -0.4 percent. The municipality has approximately 230 retail properties.

The last time the number increased nationally was in 2010. Due to this increase, there are almost as many physical stores as there were at the beginning of 2022, according to Statistics Netherlands.

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On the map above you will find the number of physical retail locations per municipality on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2023. These figures have been rounded to the nearest five. For reasons of confidentiality, CBS cannot share unrounded figures on the number of stores. The color on the map is determined by the percentage increase or decrease in the number of physical stores. These figures have been calculated by Statistics Netherlands on the basis of the actual, unrounded figures for the most accurate picture possible of the development of the number of retail locations. As a result, the rounded absolute numbers may remain the same, for example, while the CBS calculation shows a positive or negative development.

OUTSTANDERS

Shops were added in six out of ten municipalities last year. The number of shops grew relatively fastest in the North Holland village of Oostzaan. Relatively many shops also opened their doors in Zoeterwoude in South Holland and on Terschelling.

New shops were added in most large municipalities. Of the twenty largest, the number of retail properties increased most rapidly in Haarlemmermeer, Zaanstad and Rotterdam. Of the large municipalities, Statistics Netherlands only counted a slight decrease in Haarlem, Eindhoven and Apeldoorn.

According to the statistics office, flower shops, pet shops and garden centers have most often disappeared from the streets in the past year. The number of stores selling electronics or white goods such as washing machines also decreased. However, these declines were much smaller than in the previous year.