Blokker goes bust in new blow for Dutch high streets

High street household goods retailer Blokker has gone bankrupt, in a major blow for the struggling Dutch retail sector. The company had requested court protection from creditors and closed its webshop earlier this month.

Blokker’s 395 physical shops, which have a workforce of some 3,500, will remain open while existing stock is sold off.

The company has been struggling in recent years and still has a considerable coronavirus-related tax bill to deal with. In May the company signed a credit facility with US company Gordon Brothers which helps finance struggling high street chains. 

However, accountants group KPMG warned in August that the company would be in financial trouble by the autumn.

The company was founded in 1896 grew into a massive retail emporium. The Blokker family finally sold it to Mirage in 2019 via a management buy-out.

Earlier this month, The Body Shop went bust and in August discount shoe store Bristol closed its 80 Dutch outlets. Retail chains Esprit and Adam en Duetz have all recently disappeared from the Dutch high street while last year, Perry Sport closed its doors for good, as did BCC, Big Bazar and Scotch & Soda.