Cross-border boutique launch unveiled: a sneak peek at its anticipated design
Construction Begins on Dutch Outlet Center Aiming to Outshine Roermond's Counterpart
A new shopping center, known as a fashion outlet center, is underway in the economically challenged Dutch town of Zevenaar. The center, slated to create around 1,000 jobs, will resemble the well-known outlet in Roermond and is expected to attract more customers, potentially causing further decline for cities in NRW, Germany.
Located just a short drive from NRW, the center will house more than 85 shops offering branded clothing at reduced prices. Although the specific retailers have yet to be announced, the center is planned to span about 20,000 square meters. It will not surpass the size of larger centers such as Oberhausen's Centro shopping center, which boasts 250 shops and 125,000 square meters of retail space.
Haslinger Retail Real Estate, based in Baden-Württemberg, is handling the project's marketing. Michael Haslinger, the managing director, states that construction delays, including those caused by the Corona pandemic and a lengthy legal dispute over a new motorway exit, have affected planning, but an opening in 2028 remains realistic.
The NRW border towns are concerned about the potential influx of customers, fearing that the new center may draw shoppers away from their inner cities. City marketing experts and economic developers in Kleve and Borken districts share this concern. Michael Haslinger maintains that the center is primarily aimed at shoppers from the Lower Rhine, western Ruhr area, and the Münsterland region, and he doubts it will have a significant impact on regional trade.
The new center will be easily accessible by car, with a bridge scheduled to be built by 2027, providing a direct route to the center without passing through Zevenaar. More than 2,000 parking spaces are expected to accommodate visitors.
Another significant project, Europe's largest "Food Village," is underway in the neighboring town of Duiven. The proximity of these two developments is seen as a location factor for the outlet center.
For those interested in Dutch news, recent headlines include a night camera capturing a curious scene with cows chasing away a wolf in Holland, a tourist paying €1,485 for two drinks and a bag of chips, and a roller coaster marathon in Toverland amusement park.
Although projected impacts on cross-border retail in the Rhine and Ruhr areas are unconfirmable at this time, the opening of a large outlet center in Zevenaar, close to major highways connecting to these regions, is likely to result in an increase in cross-border shopping, competitive pressure on local retailers, and economic multiplier effects in Zevenaar and the surrounding area.
The new fashion outlet center, set to open in 2028, will not only offer branded clothing at reduced prices but also cater to a lifestyle and home-and-garden market, making it an attractive destination for shopping enthusiasts in the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden sectors. Conveniently located near major highways connecting to the Rhine and Ruhr areas, this center is expected to spur cross-border shopping and bring economic growth to the Zevenaar region.
