Harvey Nichols backs down from Amsterdam store opening plans

It seems as if British department store group Harvey Nichols has decided to back down from its plans to open a store in Amsterdam, the Netherlands following the announcement of the new boutique department store Haussmann opening during the second half of 2016.

Previous media reports indicated the Harvey Nichols was in talks with property investment group Emmes to lease the property adjacent to Marks & Spencer on the Rokin. Martin Smit, the owner of Emmes, revealed to local newspaper de Parool in December 2013, that they were in discussion with Harvey Nichols but things were "heading in the right direction." The website domain name Harveynichols.nl had been registered by Emmes Group and featured an opening page which read: "Amsterdam Opening 2016."

However, recently news emerged that a group of Dutch entrepreneurs and financial investors behind the department store have leased the 75,000 square foot store on Rokin 49 for the new Haussmann. Frans van der Kraan, founding partner and CEO of Haussmann, said Harvey Nichols had their eye on the property for a long time, but complications arose when it came to licensing the operations. "There are disadvantages to the exploitation of a established concept," he said to de Parool.

The website has been taken offline. A spokesperson for Harvey Nichols declined to comment on the move, stating: "Harvey Nichols does not provide comment on market rumour or speculation."