Uniqlo launches in the Netherlands

Japanese retailer Uniqlo has entered the Netherlands, with a debut Dutch store launching in Amsterdam.

The Fast Retailing flagship brand, after months of speculation, has confirmed it will enter the Dutch market in the autumn of 2018.

Located on Amsterdam’s busiest shopping street, Kalverstraat, the three-level, 2,040 square-metre-store has a secondary entry for shoppers to access to the store via Rokin, opposite Canadian retailer Hudson’s Bay. The building served as the home of US retailer Forever 21, until early 2018.

The Amsterdam flagship will boast collections for men, women, children and infants, as well as key collections like LifeWear.

“Amsterdam is well known for its relaxed and casual lifestyle. I believe our LifeWear, designed around core items such as Denim, Ultra Light Down outerwear, Extra Fine Merino knitwear and more, will be a perfect match for the people of Amsterdam. Our entry into the Netherlands marks the next step in our plans to grow our presence in the Benelux region,” said Taku Morikawa, Chief Executive Officer at Uniqlo Europe.

Europe has been expansion point for the Japanese retailer in the past twelve months. In May 2017, Uniqlo debuted a European distribution centre in Oud-Gastel in the Netherelands, in partnership with Ceva Logistics.

At the time, Uniqlo said it plans to take its European store count to 100 outlets over the next three years, in a bid to strengthen its retail presence outside of Asia.

With the opening of the Amsterdam store, the Netherlands serves as the eighth European market for the fashion giant.

Uniqlo is owned by Fast Retailing, which also operates Comptoir des Cotonniers, GU, Helmut Lang and J Brand. It boasts 1,900 stores, in 19 markets worldwide including Asia, Europe and the Americas.