Dutch shopping streets quieter as RMC points to record-hot summer
Research firm RMC says fewer people passed through Dutch shopping streets this summer, particularly in large cities, and attributes the decline to the heat.
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Pedestrian traffic in Dutch shopping streets fell again in the latest quarter, according to research firm RMC. In figures reported by ANP, RMC said the number of passers-by in the first nine months of 2026 was 2.4% lower than in the same period last year. The decline was particularly apparent in large cities. [1]
RMC reported falls of 3.7% in July, 3.5% in August and 4.7% in September, although the report did not specify the comparison period for those monthly figures. RMC attributed the quieter streets to the hot summer. Its director, Kevin Miley, said people seeking relief from prolonged heat may choose the beach, water or their own gardens over a busy city centre. [1]
The Dutch weather agency KNMI said the summer averaged 19.3°C and was the warmest since records began, according to the ANP report. The report does not establish how much of the drop in pedestrian traffic was caused by the heat. [1]
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