Randstad retail decline reshapes city centres into mixed-use hubs
Shops in the Randstad are disappearing as consumer habits shift and online shopping grows. City centres are transforming into vibrant spaces blending retail, hospitality, and culture, directly impacting where and how residents spend their time and money.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Region | Randstad (South Holland, North Holland, Utrecht) |
| Study Conducted By | Ipsos I&O, Movares, Sweco |
| Retail Decline | Fewer shops, especially in non-daily sectors like fashion and electronics |
| Growth Sector | Daily retail (e.g., supermarkets) |
| City Centre Shift | Increasing mix of hospitality, culture, services, and housing |
| Tourism Impact | Over 40% of hospitality spending comes from tourists |
| Online Shopping Growth | Slowing but still rising in fashion, sports, and electronics |
| Vacancy Rates | Lower in neighbourhood centres due to stable daily amenities |
The provinces of South Holland, North Holland, and Utrecht commissioned this study to monitor retail trends and urban development in the Randstad. Their role involves shaping policies to support vibrant, future-proof city centres through spatial planning and collaboration with municipalities and businesses.
Pure gold (or black) ☕
Your support is worth gold. But honestly, black coffee makes us very happy too.
Read the full translated article below
Retail offering in the Randstad is shrinking, city centres are changing function
The number of shops in the Randstad is declining, even as the number of residents is growing rapidly. At the same time, city centres are increasingly shifting from traditional retail areas to places where shopping is combined with hospitality, culture and other amenities. This is evident from the Randstad Shopping Flows Study 2025, conducted on behalf of the provinces of South Holland, North Holland and Utrecht.
The study, carried out by Ipsos I&O, Movares and Sweco, shows that the retail sector has been in decline for some time. At the same time, consumer expectations are changing and online shopping is growing.
Fewer shops, different functions
The number of shops and total retail floor space in the Randstad have further decreased, particularly in non-daily retail sectors such as fashion and electronics. The daily sector, such as supermarkets, is growing in many municipalities. However, small supermarkets in small centres are under pressure due to economies of scale and lower profit margins.
Meanwhile, large and distinctive city centres are attracting more visitors. Despite the declining number of shops, these centres are managing to increase their market share. Medium-sized centres show a mixed picture, with distinctiveness becoming increasingly important.
City centres are changing
The role of city centres is evolving. Whereas shops used to be the main draw, the focus is now increasingly on a mix of functions such as hospitality, culture, services and housing. Tourism also plays an important role in this. In the Randstad, more than 40% of hospitality spending comes from tourist visitors.
Neighbourhood and district centres, meanwhile, remain important for daily amenities. Thanks to supermarkets and other basic services, these centres often have a stable position and relatively low vacancy rates.
Growth in online shopping is levelling off
Online shopping continues to grow, but at a slower pace than in previous years. In sectors such as fashion, sports and electronics, the share of online spending is still rising. In sectors such as home furnishings, DIY and daily groceries, this share is stabilising.
Working together for vibrant centres
The study shows that the Randstad’s amenities structure remains robust but is under pressure in some places. City centres near larger cities, in particular, sometimes struggle to maintain their position.
According to the provinces, investments in quality, collaboration between municipalities, entrepreneurs and property owners, and clear spatial choices remain important to keep centres attractive and future-proof. The study provides new insights to further strengthen this collaboration.
Symposium on the Randstad Shopping Flows Study 2025
The results were presented at the Symposium on the Randstad Shopping Flows Study 2025 on March 12, 2026, at the provincial government building of South Holland in The Hague. During the symposium, experts and administrators discussed the key trends and the future of retail, hospitality and city centres in the Randstad.
The full study can be found at: www.koopstromen.nl/randstad/resultaten(opent in nieuw venster)