About us

By cooperating with each other, retail chains and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can present a unified position to the market. This strengthens the promotion of retailers’ interests at Dutch and European authorities. Several activities of Detailhandel Nederland are supported by the Central Industry Board for the Retail Trade (HBD).

Detailhandel Nederland’s Five-Pillar Strategy
Detailhandel Nederland strategy is based on five pillars, namely Accessibility, Payment systems, Europe, Social Affairs
and Store Crime. Detailhandel Nederland can also take positions on current events. Detailhandel Nederland is intensively involved in issues such as reducing the costs of payment systems, the accessibility and stocking of retailers, as well as combating store robberies and shoplifting.  The EU’s work programme is also closely monitored in order to identify developments in Brussels as early as possible and anticipate the effects of these developments on retail trade.  The influence of Brussels is constantly increasing with the expansion of the European Union. Detailhandel Nederland is involved, under its own name and whilst maintaining its independence, in protecting the general interests of employees via the Dutch Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MKB-Nederland) and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW).

The Dutch retail sector
The Dutch retail sector employs almost 760,000 people in 110,000 stores. As such, retail is the largest business sector in the Netherlands. In 2009, the turnover of the retail sector amounted to around € 81 billion. Throughout the European Union, approximately 14.6 million people are employed by the retail sector in 3,311,647 enterprises with an approximate total turnover of € 2,273 billion.

Lobbying and communication
Detailhandel Nederland is the mouthpiece for retailers in the Netherlands. Talks with the government and other consultative structures ensure that the retail sector’s voice is heard.

The Executive Board of Detailhandel Nederland is made up of the following members:
J.J. Meerman, Chairman - CBW-MITEX
P.E. Hamming, Vice-Chairman, Netherlands Retail Trade Council
F.K. De Moor, Treasurer - Macintosh Retail Group

A.D. Boer  - Albert Heijn
H. van den Broek - Detailresult Groep
J.P.M. Burgering - NSO Trade Organisation for the Tobacco Retail Trade
J.G. Bruijniks - Euretco
M.A. Estourgie - UNETO-VNI
H.H. van der Geest
Ms P.E.H. Hoogstraaten - Vakcentrum