Retail in 2024: The big picture
The retail market in the Netherlands remained stagnant in current value terms in 2024, as economic pressures weighed heavily on both consumers and businesses. Persistent inflation significantly eroded consumer purchasing power, leading to a decline in discretionary spending.
Big names face bankruptcy
Iconic Dutch retailer Blokker filed for bankruptcy in November 2024, announcing that it would permanently close all of its nearly 400 stores by the end of December. The closure marked the end of an era for the well-known retail chain, which had been a staple of the Dutch high street for decades.
Retail e-commerce sees modest decline
After experiencing rapid growth during the pandemic, e-commerce saw a further decline in overall sales value in 2024. The primary factor behind this downturn was weakened consumer confidence, as rising prices made shoppers more cautious about online spending.
What next for retail?
While outlook for the retail sector in the Netherlands remains challenging, but there are reasons for cautious optimism. As the economy improves and price trends stabilise across most categories, consumers are likely to regain confidence and increase their spending.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Retail industry in Netherlands with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Convenience Stores
- Discounters
- Hypermarkets
- Supermarkets
- Traditional Grocery Retailers
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers
- Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers
- Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers
- Home and Garden Specialist Retailers
- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Warehouse Clubs
- Direct Selling
- Homeshopping
- Vending
If you're in the Retail industry in Netherlands, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Retail in Netherlands report includes:
- Analysis of key retail trends
- Detailed segmentation of offline and online retail sales
- Historic channel sizes (retail value sales, outlet counts, and selling space)
- Company and brand market shares (retail value sales and outlet counts)
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Retail in Netherlands?
- Which are the leading retailers in Retail in Netherlands?
- How are products distributed in Retail in Netherlands?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- How significant are discounters and private label in Netherlands?
- To what extent are sales shifting towards digital channels?
- What is the long-term outlook for bricks-and-mortar?
- How is macroeconomic and political uncertainty affecting the retail industry?
- What types of retailers are seeing the fastest growth in digital sales?
- What is the future of retail?
Retail in the Netherlands
Retail in 2024: The big picture
Big names face bankruptcy
Retail e-commerce sees modest decline
What next for retail?
Informal retail
Opening hours for physical retail
Seasonality
Sinterklaas (St Nicholas)
Christmas
Winter sales
Summer sales
DISCLAIMER
Convenience Retailers in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rising prices challenge convenience stores in 2024
Leader Spar faces challenges
AH to Go becomes major force in convenience retail
Challenges persist for convenience retailing in the Netherlands
AH To Go will see continued expansion
Spar faces cost pressures and franchisee challenges
Supermarkets in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Supermarkets are impacted by weak consumer confidence
Tobacco ban impacts performance
Consumers shift towards value-for-money retailers
Average unit prices for groceries have reached a peak
Albert Heijn set to maintain its leadership
Investments in technology will be crucial in retaining share
Hypermarkets in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Hypermarkets play limited role in Dutch grocery retail
Tobacco sales ban hits hypermarkets
Hypermarkets serve as innovation hubs for Albert Heijn and Jumbo
Hypermarkets have growth potential amid location challenges
AHXL to focus on expanding non-food ranges
Jumbo unveils new store concept to compete with foodservice
Discounters in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Discounters profit from the tobacco ban in grocery retail
Aldi outpaces Lidl in revenue growth, but Lidl leads in sales per outlet
Aldi and Lidl face intense competition in non-food categories
Positive outlook for discounters, but securing prime locations will remain a challenge
Lidl to maintain strong momentum, while Aldi will refine strategy amid competitive pressures
Lidl prioritises healthy living and sustainability to drive future growth
Small Local Grocers in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Small local grocers face strong competition amid economic uncertainty
Ban on tobacco sales has negative impact on sales
Small local grocers see decline in number of outlets
Small local grocers face ongoing challenges
Retailers will struggle in rural areas
Loss of tobacco sales will continue to have an impact
General Merchandise Stores in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Variety store retailer Action drives growth
Blokker under threat of disappearing from the market
Hema benefits from new strategy
Mixed results expected over forecast period
Blokker unlikely to reopen in 2025
Luxury department store De Bijenkorf will struggle to retain relevance
Apparel and Footwear Specialists in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Profit margins come under pressure
Fast fashion retailers respond to intense competition from e-commerce giants
Uniqlo steps up its investment in new outlets
Outlook remains challenging
Chains will close less profitable outlets
Uniqlo will emerge as major competitor
Appliances and Electronics Specialists in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rising prices drive growth
Challenging times for bricks-and-mortar retailers
Coolblue continues to thrive, capitalising on exit of BCC
Economies of scale will be essential for survival
Bricks-and-mortar outlets will need to evolve to remain relevant
Media Markt is well-positioned to outperform its rivals
Home Products Specialists in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Consumers adopt more cautious approach to home spending
Recovery of housing market drives growth of home improvement and gardening stores
Dominant player IKEA expands reach with new small-format outlet
Challenges lie ahead for home products specialists
Homewares and home furnishings retailers will likely struggle
Outlet decline slows for pet stores and superstores
Health and Beauty Specialists in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Further recovery for health and beauty retailers
Ageing population drives growth
E-commerce remains source of competition
Beauty specialists to emerge as key growth driver
Independents will struggle in face of increased competition
Dependence on promotional pricing poses a risk for health and personal care stores
Vending in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Vending struggles amid growing competition from foodservice and convenience stores
Large players dominate
Cashless vending becomes the norm
Recovery of consumer confidence will help to stabilise sales
Significant price increases for some major product categories
Technological advancements will drive further consolidation
Direct Selling in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Direct selling struggles in current retail landscape
Herbalife faces growing competition from mainstream retailers
Labour market shifts place additional pressure on direct selling
Direct selling will remain underdeveloped
Intense competition from other channels will limit growth of direct selling
Job market will remain highly competitive
Retail E-Commerce in the Netherlands
KEY DATA FINDINGS
E-commerce faces decline as consumers become more cautious with their spending
Chinese giants disrupt e-commerce market
Meal kit providers face growing competition
Positive outlook for e-commerce amid improving economic conditions
Market consolidation will strengthen dominance of larger players
Chinese e-commerce players will remain a major force
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Retail
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- Convenience Stores
- Forecourt Retailers
- Supermarkets
- Hypermarkets
- Discounters
- Warehouse Clubs
- Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists
- Small Local Grocers
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- Department Stores
- Variety Stores
- Apparel and Footwear Specialists
- Appliances and Electronics Specialists
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- Home Improvement and Gardening Stores
- Homewares and Home Furnishing Stores
- Pet Shops and Superstores
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- Beauty Specialists
- Pharmacies
- Optical Goods Stores
- Health and Personal Care Stores
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- Bags and Luggage Specialists
- Jewellery and Watch Specialists
- Sports Goods Stores
- Traditional Toys and Games Stores
- Other Non-Grocery Retailers
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- Fashion Vending
- Health and Beauty Vending
- Appliances and Electronics Vending
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- Alcoholic Drinks Vending
- Hot Drinks Vending
- Soft Drinks Vending
- Tobacco Products Vending
- Foods Vending
- Home Products Vending
- Other Products Vending
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- Apparel and Footwear Direct Selling
- Personal Accessories Direct Selling
- Eyewear Direct Selling
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- Beauty and Personal Care Direct Selling
- Consumer Health Direct Selling
- Tissue and Hygiene Direct Selling
- Appliances and Electronics Direct Selling
- Drinks and Tobacco Direct Selling
- Foods Direct Selling
- Home Products Direct Selling
- Other Products Direct Selling
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- Apparel and Footwear E-Commerce
- Personal Accessories E-Commerce
- Eyewear E-Commerce
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- Beauty and Personal Care E-Commerce
- Consumer Health E-Commerce
- Tissue and Hygiene E-Commerce
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- Consumer Appliances E-Commerce
- Consumer Electronics E-Commerce
- Toys and Games E-Commerce
- Drinks and Tobacco E-Commerce
- Foods E-Commerce
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- Home Care E-Commerce
- Home and Garden E-Commerce
- Pet Care E-Commerce
- Other Products E-Commerce
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- First-Party (1P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Third-Party (3P) Marketplace E-Commerce
- Grocery E-Commerce
- General Merchandiser E-Commerce
- Apparel and Footwear Specialist E-Commerce
- Appliances and Electronics Specialist E-Commerce
- Home Products Specialist E-Commerce
- Health and Beauty Specialist E-Commerce
- Leisure and Personal Goods Specialist E-Commerce
- Other E-Commerce Retailers
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Retail
Retail is the sale of new and used goods to consumers from a business for personal or household consumption from retail outlets, kiosks, market stalls, vending, direct selling and e-commerce. Retail is the aggregation of Retail Offline and Retail E-Commerce. Excludes specialist retailers of motor vehicles, motorcycles, vehicle parts. Also excludes fuel sales, foodservice sales, rental transactions, and wholesale sales (e.g. Cash and Carry). Sales value excluding or including VAT/Sales Tax. Retail also excludes the informal retail sector. Informal retailing is retail trade which is not declared to the tax authorities. Informal retailing encompasses (a) sales generated by unregistered and unlicensed retailers, i.e. retailers operating illegally, and (b) any proportion of sales generated by a registered and licensed retailer that is not declared to the tax authorities. Unregistered and unlicensed retailers operate predominantly (although not exclusively) as street hawkers or operate open market stalls, as these channels are harder for the authorities to monitor than permanent outlets. Activities in the illegal market, which is usually understood to refer to trade in illegal, counterfeit or stolen merchandise, are included within our definition of informal retailing. Activities in the “grey market”, which is usually understood to refer to trade in legal merchandise that is sold through unauthorized channels – for example cigarettes bought legally in another country, legally imported, but sold at lower prices than in authorized channels – will be included as informal retailing if no tax is paid on sale by the retailer. However if the retailer pays tax – for example on cigarettes bought legally in another country but sold at a lower price than standard – the sale is included within formal retail.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
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This report originates from Passport, our Retail research and analysis database.
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