Shopping in the Netherlands Where you can shop on May 1
Roermond · Stores may be closed in Germany on the first of May, but is not a holiday in the Netherlands. Here are some places where people who live in NRW like to shop in Maastricht, Roermond and Amsterdam.
Stores are closed in Germany on May 1 for the German Labor Day holiday, called Tag Der Arbeit. In neighboring Holland, however, it’s business as usual. According to the Dutch Tourism Office in NRW, it’s quite popular for people to go on day trips to cities such as Maastricht, Roermond or Nijmegen to do some shopping there during this German holiday. Experience shows that May 1 is a day on which many consumers from NRW go shopping in Holland, confirms the tourism bureau.
Designer Outlet Roermond
The best known Dutch shopping address is probably the Arthur McGlenn Designer Outlet in Roermond near the German border. This outlet is good for shopping also because it is within walking distance of the Old Town of Roermond. If the outlet is too crowded for you, you can shop there in local shops. The city center of Roermond is open from 10 am to 7 pm. The opening hours of the Outlet Center are 9 am to 11 pm. Parking on the large parking lot of the shopping center costs 2 euros per day.
Venlo
In the Dutch city of Venlo you can shop on the first of May from 9:30 am to 6 pm. In addition to the city center with its many shopping streets and cafés, Venlo also has Maasboulevard, offering more shopping possibilities. Besides many local shops in the city center, there are also some large chains. Maasboulevard is open from 1 pm to 6 pm. Other shops in the city center of Venlo are generally open from 10 am to 6pm. There is sufficient parking in Venlo but it is almost impossible to find a parking place which will not cost you: There are four parking garages and a parking zone where one needs a valid parking ticket.
Eindhoven
The smaller city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands is also very popular among shopping lovers from NRW, because in addition to many small shops in the large pedestrian zone of Eindhoven, the city also offers covered shopping centers and a few outlets. Opening hours vary here. However, the shopping centers are open at least from 10 am to 6 pm. As in other more popular Dutch cities, it is difficult to park for free in Eindhoven near the city center. However, there are a large number of parking spaces where charges apply.
Maastricht
The city of Maastricht is situated between Belgium and Germany on both sides of the Maas River and regularly attracts many people who want to escape the holidays back home. The city is characterized by its beautiful Old Town with many small local shops. Most shops are open from 10 am to 6 pm. There are a lot of parking possibilities here, but the parking fees can be quite high depending on the location.
Amsterdam
If you are willing to take a longer drive, a trip to Amsterdam is also worthwhile. On the one hand, the city offers many possibilities for shopping fanatics. From antique dealers to specialty shops and well-known big chains, you can find a lot here. On the other hand, you can also find many tourist attractions: The royal palace, the many canals as well as the historical main square of the city called "Dam" are all popular destinations. But Amsterdam has much more to offer than can be explored in one day.
If you arrive by car, you have to reckon with the fact that almost everywhere in Amsterdam, parking fees are high. Depending on where you are coming from, train travel might be preferable. Most shops in Amsterdam are open on Wednesdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
The fastest way to the Netherlands
The NRW Transportation Authority recommends the following routes for the short trip: To Eindhoven via the A61 in the direction of Venlo, then via the Dutch motorways A74, A73 and A67 to reach the destination.
Orig. text: Talia Sachs
Translation: ck
