Amsterdam’s PC Hooftstraat World’s Third Nicest Shopping Street

DutchAmsterdam.nl — Amsterdam’s most expensive shopping street, the P.C. Hooftstraat, has been rated third on a list of the world’s nicest places to shop.

Orchard Street in Singapore took first place, followed by Avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg.

“We surveyed the quality of retail service on iconic shopping streets that tourists are told they just need to visit,” says Leslie Kambourian, Business Development Manager for Présence Mystery Shopping.

The Paris-based market consulting company sent out ninety ‘mystery shoppers’ to visit thirty shopping streets around the world.

The shoppers rated nearly 400 stores on four criteria:

• Appearance (cleanliness, lighting)
• Welcome (staff greetings, courtesy, availability)
• Atmosphere (garbage cans available, open space, clean pavement)
• Contact with passers-by (friendliness, helpfulness to people passing through the store)

P.C. Hooftstraat

Officially named Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat, the PC — as Amsterdammers refer to it — was noted for its friendliness: retail outlets were courteous and welcoming to the people walking by the store, creating an inviting atmosphere.

The street sports international brand stores, such as Cartier, Chanel, Diesel (brand), Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and Co.

Interestingly the report makes notes of the fact that the Dutch refer to Sports Utility Vehicles as “P.C. Hooft-tractors” — a derogatory term for the luxury SUV’s that used to clog the shopping street.

Attractive for Retailers

The P.C. Hooftstraat is attractive for retailers as well, says a spokesperson for real estate company Jones Lang Lasalle.

Retailers pay € 1400/year per m², making the PC one of Europe’s least expensive luxury shopping streets. Only in Prague and Warsaw brand stores pay less for a spot in a top street.

Local daily Het Parool points out that the P.C. Hooftstraat is also one of the few luxury shopping streets in Europe where the rent is lower than in the city’s most expensive shopping district — Kalverstraat, in the cases of Amsterdam.

In contrast Amsterdammers spend above average on luxury goods.

That said, the supply of luxury brands in Amsterdam is rather small compared to other top cities. Of the one hundred leading luxury brands, 22 are represented in Amsterdam. Only Antwerp, Budapest and Warsaw have fewer international brand stores.

Paris is home to 154 top brands.

World’s Top Ten Nicest Shopping Streets

The world’s best shopping streets, along with their scores out of a possible 100 points:

1. Orchard Road, Singapore (89)
2. Avenue de la Liberté, Luxemburg (85)
3. PC Hoofstraat, Amsterdam (83)
4. Bagdat Avenue, Istanbul (83)
5. Oscar Freire, Sao Paolo (82)
6. George Street, Sydney (82)
7. Mariahilferstrasse, Wenen (80)
8. Avenue Louise, Brussel (78)
9. Ginza Line, Tokyo (78)
10. Bond Street, Londen (77)

The Champs Elysées in Paris is ranked in sixteenth place with 71 points. Berlin’s Friedrischstrasse took twenty-first place with 68 points, whilte 5th Avenue in New York ranks twenty sixth with 64 points.

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