Dutch fashion chain Norah is making a comeback in Flanders

Shortly after the Dutch fashion chain Norah closed its only two Belgian stores, the retailer is already announcing a comeback: starting next year, the chain is ambitiously building a new store network in Flanders.

“Hasselt is the start”

Earlier this year, Norah withdrew from Belgium, just as it did from Germany. The stores in Turnhout and Geel closed. However, the retailer also announced at the time that a return would follow: “We know for certain that we want to be in 20 to 25 locations in Belgium,” CEO Han Sterk said then. Meanwhile, the Belgian plans have become much more concrete: the first store will open at Koning Albertstraat 60 in Hasselt, in the former Casa building, near Inno and Hema, the CEO announced on LinkedIn.

“Sometimes you have to go back home for a while, redraw the plans, rebuild, grow, and figure out how to do it even better next time. And that moment is now,” he says. In the meantime, Norah has changed: “We’ve grown, our brand has become stronger, our stores have become more beautiful, and we’ve learned quite a bit. So we’re not crossing the border just to cautiously see if Belgium might be a good fit for us. Hasselt is the beginning. We’re starting in Flemish Limburg and will build a new Norah store network in Flanders from there. Step by step.” He assures us that Norah is serious: “This time, we’re here to stay.”