Les Hommes d’Amsterdam will join other retail stores in Ville Haute when it opens its doors on Thursday 9 September at 74, Grand-Rue. 

Laurens Krekels and Bram ter Harmsel have arrived from the Netherlands full of ideas for their new store. They will offer exclusive brands of suits and menswear as well as a tailor-made clothes and shoes thanks to a partnership with an Italian workshop, which delivers the articles to Luxembourg within 20 days.

"We complement each other: Bram will work in the shop, I will take care of the operational side," says Laurens Krekels. The latter works in asset management while launching his business with his partner who has worked for the Italian brand Corneliani, which is also in the company's portfolio.

The store will occupy 120m² located just opposite Sidestep, another anticipated opening in Ville Haute.

Towards an increased demand?

"We have noticed that in Luxembourg, there is a lack of luxury men's clothing," says Laurens Krekels. "We see that there is a demand for this segment, especially now that people are working in the office again.

It has to be said that the supply of suits in the capital has undergone some changes in recent months with the bankruptcy of the Thilges shop in June 2020. But new players have arrived this summer, such as Brunello Cucinelli on Rue Philippe II. Opened on 13 February 2020, just before the covid-19 pandemic broke out, the Ferala house on rue Notre-Dame is seeing a resurgence in activity for both suits and formal wear.

"The competition shows us that there is a market, and in our view, this will bring more high-end customers into the city centre," says Aleksandra Nowikowska, a partner at Ferala Luxembourg.

To distinguish itself, Les Hommes d’Amsterdam will have a bar while customised sneakers will also be sold. "This shop is a first step, but we have other projects", the duo suggests. They have invested some €180,000 in their business.