Leidschendam – A future Westfield Mall of the Netherlands is showing promising results after the already opened southern stage, which is already attracting more than 8 million visitors per year.
Figures show that the former Leidsburg shopping center, which in its heyday from 1998-2004 attracted more than 9 million visitors a year, is growing again. Due to the decline and construction work, the number of visitors subsequently decreased to 5 million, before Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield began the transformation that will soon make the mall the largest indoor shopping center in the Netherlands. “It will be the most beautiful and largest mall in the Benelux,” even project manager Tune Kwik takes a step further. In consultation with the municipality, work has been taken to better amend the traffic lights in Noordsingel, in order to prevent as much congestion by visitors of the shopping center as possible.
Koek: “Our starting point has always been to open something exceptional, but the current visitor numbers exceed our wildest expectations. This makes me even more convinced that we are marking the beginning of a new retail era with the establishment of the mall.”
The first section of the Westfield Mall of the Netherlands which has already opened has 90 stores and restaurants that currently attract more than 650,000 visitors per month. According to the most recent initial forecast, the mall will receive approximately 12-14 million visitors in the first year after its full opening. The mall is expected to officially open in the fourth quarter of 2020. At that time, Westfield Mall in the Netherlands will be home to 280 stores, restaurants and entertainment providers and will cover a total area of 117,000 square meters.
On Duindoorn, facade and internal demolition of shops in line from McDonald’s to GSM Walhalla are now underway. These demolitions will continue until the beginning of March. The next major store to be the Paagman Book Store and Office is scheduled to open in June. In total, between 750 to 1000 construction workers are employed in the shopping center. Escalators have been installed in the cinema in Eglantier and tenant Kinepolis can commence upon completion. We are working hard on different parking sites.
Among the retailers already contributing to the current success are Amac, the cheese-selling shop Henri Willig and the recently opened flagship store Hunkemöller. New retailers are attracted. The first Dutch perfume store, Arabian Oud; Shoe brand Wolkyshop; Cotton Club’s latest store concept; KKEC Gift Shop; And Lucardi, the largest jewelry chain in the Netherlands, are coming to the mall. In addition, the New Zealand Auckland brand will also open a store, the State of Art will open the largest shop of inspiration, and local champ Van Koningsbruggen will open a jewelry and watch store.
The latest additions join an impressive list of local and international brands. With this, Westfield Mall in the Netherlands becomes the first integrated lifestyle destination with the best concept stores, cutting-edge leisure activities, hospitality and immersive events. The center also houses a Kinepolis cinema with over 10 screens and 1,800 seats, the VR Experience The Void and O’Learys, a 3,300-square-meter sports café / event center.
The newly signed retailers are: Arabian Oud, Cotton Club. KKEC, Lucardi, State of Art, New Zealand Auckland, and Van Koningsbruggen. Major international brands coming to the mall include Hugo Boss, Scotch & Soda, Timberland, Calzedonia, Intemesime, Asics and Clarks. Zara, Bershka, Bull & Bear and Stradivarius. Hunkemöller and Amercia Today are really open. And outspoken Dutch brands such as Distrikt, Hutspot, Ace & Tate, 10Days, The Sting, Costes, Anna van Toor, Nelson Premium and Boekhandel Paagman have already signed up.
