In recent years, the basic quality of The Hague’s shopping areas has generally improved. This is evident from the Retail Monitor 2024, which provides insight into the state of affairs of The Hague’s shopping areas. Economic functioning declined slightly compared to 2017. The retail monitor distinguishes four types of shopping areas: city centre, urban shopping street, large neighbourhood centre and small neighbourhood centre. De Passage, Frederik Hendriklaan, De Savornin Lohmanplein and ‘t Hoge Veen came out on top within these categories.
The municipality has been monitoring its shopping areas every four years since 2006. Alderman Nur Icar (SME): “The retail monitor shows how things are going with The Hague’s shopping areas and what is needed to make these shopping areas function well. It is a valuable tool to keep our policy up to date. Strong and healthy shopping areas are important: they contribute to the attractiveness and liveability of our city. And of course I think it is wonderful that there are so many committed entrepreneurs who are committed to this!” Because no retail monitor was established in 2021 due to corona, the last retail monitor dates from 2017.
Improved level of organization and more visitors in the city center
The basic quality was measured using the following indicators: demand, supply, location, physical quality and commercial quality. Compared to 2017, the basic quality improved in almost every type of shopping area. For example, the number of business investment zones (BIZs) increased. In a BIZ, entrepreneurs and/or property owners jointly invest in their shopping area. In several shopping areas, the public space and accessibility were also improved and the number of visitors to the city centre increased.
Rental prices less stable and vacancy rate increasing
The economic functioning refers to the economic dynamics, strength and turnover of entrepreneurs in a shopping area. Among other things, because the rents were less stable compared to previous years and the vacancy rate increased, the economic functioning of the shopping areas deteriorated slightly compared to 2017.
Fewer, but better shopping areas
The need for shopping areas is decreasing, also in The Hague. The board is therefore focusing on fewer, but qualitatively better shopping areas in the main shopping structure. The Weimarstraat and Valkenboslaan are therefore being merged into one shopping area in line with one of the recommendations from the retail monitor. This is how future-proof shopping areas are created.
The retail monitor was drawn up by consultancy Stec and can be read here and more information can be found here (in Dutch)
Photo: Alderman Nur Icar (SME) congratulates Wietske Kooks (chairman of the De Savornin Lohmanplein retailers’ association) because De Savornin Lohmanplein has been named the best shopping area in the ‘large community centre’ category in the 2024 Retail Monitor.
Photographer: Michel Mees