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Here is one more reason to visit Amsterdam—the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands: Apple is busy putting the finishing touches on a new retail store. According to Dutch-language website iPhoneclub.nl, the rumored Leidseplein store is now a reality as the company raised huge orange storefront stickers adorned with three Apple logos – a subtle hint at the three crosses on top of each other from the Coat of Arms of Amsterdam. The customary stickers read:
While employees speculate the store could open this coming Saturday, Feb. 18, that may not be feasible due to scaffoldings and plastic sheets inside (additional snaps at the source link). Moreover, a recent job ad in the Metro newspaper indicates Apple has only recently begun hiring store staff, so Feb. 18 could be the date when employee training starts (as the website noted itself, employees have a mandatory day off on Saturday)…
According to floor plans obtained by IfoAppleStore, Apple is looking to open the store on the ground floor and mezzanine of the 1909-era Hirsch Building at Leidseplein 25. As we reported in November 2011, Apple has gone to great lengths to preserve the historic building that appears well connected with the city’s tramline and a plaza sitting right in front of it. The building already accommodates the company’s headquarters for the Benelux region on the third floor. Noting that the Hirsch building originally belonged to an international fashion house, ifoAppleStore explained last year:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_GjA9JyUCI]
- EU retail update: Prada outbids Apple in Milan, first Apple Stores coming to Sweden and The Netherlands (9to5mac.com)
- Apple Store coming to London’s world-famous Harrods department store (9to5mac.com)
- Apple in early discussions to open stores inside of Sam’s Club locations (9to5mac.com)
- More Apple retail stores planned for historic buildings in 2012; Stores approved in Germany, Canada, and Spain (9to5mac.com)
