On this gray Easter Monday, we traditionally visit the home and garden stores once more. It is slowly getting busier everywhere. The center of gravity is expected later this followingnoon.
It is already “nicely busy” in the stores of the IKEA store, says a spokesperson. “Normally we welcome several thousand visitors per day per store. On Easter Monday we expect another 20 to 25 percent extra.”
The IKEA stores mainly receive families, couples and groups of friends. “They also use the restaurant more often and consider it an outing.”
Before the weekend, shops already announced that they were taking crowds into account. For example, IKEA said that the Swedish furniture store can deploy enough employees despite the national staff shortage. “They are used to receiving large groups of people during Easter,” a spokesman said.
Biggest crowds are yet to come
In other stores, employees expect the largest influx of customers later in the day. Home store chain Goossens says that it is quite busy in the branches in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. “People were able to enjoy the beautiful weather on Sunday, which is reflected in the shops,” says a spokesperson.
According to her, things are a bit quieter at the Waalwijk location. “In that region, people often start with brunch on Easter Monday, so the run-up will pick up there during the day. In the Randstad, people come to the store a bit earlier.”
An employee of the Intratuin in Almelo says that it is not very busy at the beginning of the followingnoon. But she expects a “rush” to kick in later this followingnoon. According to her, customers are mainly looking for garden equipment, with a view to the beautiful weather that is coming.
Keukenhof sold out
It was stormy in Keukenhof on Saturday and Easter Monday. The park was sold out those days, a spokesperson reports. In four days, 145,000 people visited Keukenhof.
“The combination of the flowering in the park, the blooming bulb fields in the region and the beautiful weather ensured that Keukenhof had a good Easter,” explains director Jeroen Duyster.
