Visitors to the Netherlands' Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet up 15% in 2017

By

Shomara Roosblad

Published
Mar 1, 2018

On Tuesday, Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet announced a growth in turnover as well as a growing number of visitors for the year 2017.

The turnover increased by 15 percent compared to the previous financial year, while the number of visitors also increased by 15% in 2017, compared to 2016. 

Additionally, Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet opened 40 new stores in May last year. These include brands such as G-Star, Fred de la Bretonière, Samsonite, WMF and Marlies Dekkers.

Centre Director Patrick Jansen, said in a press release: “Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet is proud to be the third center, out of the eleven outlet centers, that have been modernized by VIA Outlets in the past four years. The adjustment has clearly translated into an increase in the number of visitors and an increase in turnover. With a total increase in turnover of 15%, or 8% when we look at like-for-like (comparable stores), we score well above the 4.2% growth achieved by retailers in the Netherlands in 2017.”

The outlet center announced that in addition to an increase of Dutch visitors, Batavia Stad also continues to attract tourists. According to the center, Chinese tourists remain the largest non-EU visitors. This has contributed to tax-free sales, which rose by 20% in 2017.

The tax-free sales are operated by the center’s tax refund desk and allows non-EU visitors, who spend over 50 euros, to receive an immediate tax return at the spot. In September, Batavia Stad stated that in addition to Chinese shoppers, visitors from Egypt and Indonesia are also regular customers.

The Lelystad-based Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet is part of VIA outlets. VIA outlets operates 11 outlet centres in 9 European countries. Mallorca Fashion Outlet (Spain), Hede Fashion Outlet (Sweden) and Wroclaw Fashion Outlet (Poland) are part of the VIA outlets portfolio.