Promising results south phase Westfield Mall of the Netherlands

The future Westfield Mall of the Netherlands is celebrating a busy start to 2020, after revealing its newly completed South Phase - the first phase of the unique development to open - it is driving annualised footfall of over 8 million already.

The figures signal a return to growth for the former Leidsenhage shopping centre which in its heyday from 1998-2004 attracted over 9m visitors per annum. Deterioration and construction works saw that number tumble to 5m, before Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield started a transformation that will soon see the centre become the largest covered mall in the Netherlands.

The first part of the new destination is now open with 90 stores and food outlets already attracting 650,000+ visitors every month. According to the latest conservative forecasts, the mall will welcome approximately 12-14m visitors through its doors in its first year, once fully open. The development is on track for completion  in H2 2020, when it will become home to 280 stores, restaurants and leisure outlets across 117,000 sqm.

Retailers already contributing to the success of the South Phase include Amac, the largest Apple Premium Reseller; speciality cheese giftshop Henri Willig; and the recently opened Hunkemöller flagshipstore. The reaction to the first phase of the development has also attracted more retailers, with new deals confirmed today.

Among them are: The very first Dutch store of fragrance manufacturer Arabian Oud;  comfortable shoewear brand Wolkyshop; the newest store concept of Cotton Club; giftshop KKEC; and Lucardi, the largest jewellery chain in the Netherlands, will all take space in the South Phase. Others to do so are State of Art with their largest inspiration store; menswear brand New Zealand Auckland; and local hero Van Koningsbruggen will open a store with jewellery and watches.

Teun Koek, Project Director of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, says: “We have been talking about creating something exceptional to open in H2 2020 but the visitor numbers of the already opened south phase are exceeding our expectations This is a development that truly marks the beginning of a new era for retail in the Netherlands.”

The latest signings will join an impressive list of local and international brands at the over 600 million euros development which promises to irreversibly change the Dutch retail landscape. Westfield Mall of the Netherlands will be the first fully integrated lifestyle destination with best-in-class concept stores, cutting-edge leisure activities, a superior food offering, and immersive events. This includes a 10-screen, 1,800+ seats Kinepolis cinema; the world’s most immersive VR experience, The Void; and a 3,300 sqm O’Learys event centre.