The gap left in many of the country’s high streets after the failure of the mid-market V&D department stores chain is gradually being filled up by other retailers, according to a report in Trouw.

Expressed in square metres, vacancies in Dutch high streets fell back to 7.3% of the total in October from 7.8% in January according to retail consultancy Locatus. The number of empty shops fell to 7% of the total from 7.3% in the same time span, Locatus said.

‘We call this the V&D effect,’ said Locatus research director Gertjan Slob. ‘Most of the former V&D branches are already leased by other retailers. The most prominent, of course, is Canadian department store operator Hudson’s Bay.’