“There are always long lines here, so we want to avoid the real crowds,” says a German woman who has been in the Designer Outlet in Roermond before the stores open. Now that the corona measures are a thing of the past, a large influx of foreign buyers is expected in Roermond and Venlo on Friday.
Many shops in Germany and Belgium are closed around Easter.
Germans
And that is noticeable early on. “It is already starting to fill up with mainly Germans. There are at least 200 people in line for this store that will open soon,” reporter Sjors Abeling told L1 radio program De Nieuwsshow on Friday.
Some shopping tourists have traveled to Roermond with a clear purpose. “My wife would like to buy shoes. She said it will soon fill up with people, so that’s why we are there early,” said a gentleman. He does not expect to buy anything himself. “No, I accompany my wife.”
Also read: Traffic measures to manage Easter crowds
Traffic measures
Extra traffic lights, traffic controllers and barriers will be deployed to ensure that all traffic runs smoothly. In Roermond, the influx of traffic on the N280 from Germany will be controlled by means of traffic lights. To prevent cut-through traffic through Boukoul and Asenray, the municipality will close the access roads to Turfbroek and Maalbroek. But that only happens when the traffic jam reaches that exit. In addition, traffic controllers must guide local traffic in both villages.
People are also deployed in Venlo to regulate traffic. In addition, temporary signage and matrix signs have been set up in the municipality to inform bargain hunters.