Apple's first Amsterdam retail store set to open March 3
In just a week and a half, Apple will expand its retail operations to its 12th country when a new storefront opens in the Netherlands.
The grand opening of the new Apple Store in the Netherlands will take place next Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m.. That will make it dozenth country where Apple operates its retail business, according to Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore.com.
The Amsterdam location will be on the ground floor and mezzanine of the city's historic Hirsch Building in Leidseplein Square. The two levels will be connected by a glass spiral staircase, which is a defining feature of many of Apple's retail locations.
"The interior of the store is reminiscent of the Opera (Paris) store, according to spy photos, with a tall ceiling, ornate support pillars and many other renovated details," Allen wrote. "Administrative offices will occupy an upper floor of the building."
The second floor will be covered by a glass pyramid, similar to the existing Apple outlet in the Louvre. Construction on the site began in May of 2011
The first indication of the Netherlands store came over a year ago, and last month spectators got a look at the construction underway after a tarp concealing it was blown away. Earlier reports pointing toward a mid-February grand opening were inaccurate.
Facade of soon-to-be-opened Apple Store in Amsterdam. | Source: iPhoneclub.nl
Apple began hyping that the store was opening "soon" earlier this month, but did not give a specific date. The windows on the storefront have been blocked out with advertisements showing the white Apple logo against a background of the Netherlands' official color of orange.
The Netherlands store will join the company's Benelux headquarters, which is located two floors above it in the Hirsch Building. In addition to a tall ceiling, the interior will feature "ornate support pillars and many other renovated historic details," Allen said.
[ View article on AppleInsider ]
Comments
It's a beautiful building, formerly a luxury department store. There was a bank on the ground floor for a long time, but the last couple of years it was empty. Really happy that it's back in use again. And I think it's typical that Apple manages to find not just an A-location, but basically the AAA location of the city. Can't wait to stand in line for my iPad 3 :-)
AAA with regards to the crime rate you mean?
J.
The vertical triplet of Apple logos in the windows is a subtle reference to the Amsterdam coat of arms.
Insightful and astute; cool and thanks for pointing out!
AAA with regards to the crime rate you mean?
J.
Where did you get that from? It's not specificly bad in any way...
Where did you get that from? It's not specificly bad in any way...
It is. And I know.
J.
The vertical triplet of Apple logos in the windows is a subtle reference to the Amsterdam coat of arms.
Yeah, I noticed that. Nice one by Apple. Because normally, they would never mess with the Apple logo like that. But in this case, just nice.
It is. And I know.
J.
Your comment really puzzles me. Do you feel unsafe in Amsterdam? Are you comparing crime rates within Amsterdam, or do you think Amsterdam is less safe than say, Oakland, CA? Check out this for some perspective: FOX network vs Amsterdam
Anyway, it is a great location.