- Cushman & Wakefield reports strong rent increases in top streets worldwide
- Rotterdam and The Hague follow the international trend in the Netherlands
Amsterdam, 19 November 2025 – New Bond Street in London has been named the most expensive shopping street in the world for the first time. Rental prices there rose by 22% over the past year, according to the annual Main Streets Across the World report by international real estate advisor Cushman & Wakefield. In the Netherlands, rents in the major shopping streets remained largely stable, with P.C. Hooftstraat (€ 2,800 per m² per year) once again at the top, followed by Kalverstraat (€ 2,500 per m² per year).
Remarkable growth is seen in Rotterdam and The Hague. In Rotterdam, top rent on the Lijnbaan increased to € 1,250 per m² per year (+14%), partly due to the strengthening of the southern part of the street in recent years and its growing appeal to international retailers. In The Hague, rental prices on Spuistraat rose to € 1,000 per m² per year (+25%). The nearly completed redevelopment of the former Hudson’s Bay building is expected to boost footfall in the near future, driving demand for retail space beyond available supply and pushing rents further upward.
“Dutch shopping streets show a remarkably stable picture at the top, with P.C. Hooftstraat as the most expensive location and Kalverstraat as the strongest inner-city shopping street. In Amsterdam, rents remained unchanged over the past year, although we see a modest recovery in the occupier market on Kalverstraat and growing interest from both national and international retailers. In contrast, Rotterdam and The Hague are experiencing clear growth: on Lijnbaan and Spuistraat, urban renewal and redevelopment are driving significant rental increases. This underscores the dynamism and attractiveness of these cities for retailers,” says Michiel Boonen, Head of Retail at Cushman & Wakefield Nederland.
With a 22% rent increase to € 20,482 per m² per year, New Bond Street has surpassed Via Montenapoleone in Milan, which last year became the first European street to top the global ranking. It also overtakes the iconic Upper Fifth Avenue in New York, which ranked second last year. The 35th edition of Cushman & Wakefield’s annual report shows that no fewer than 58% of the shopping streets surveyed saw a rise in rental prices. According to the real estate advisor, this reflects the scarcity of prime retail locations. Worldwide, rents rose by an average of 4.2%, with 58% of markets showing growth. The Americas recorded the strongest regional increase at 7.9%, driven by currency effects in South America. Europe saw stable growth of 4%, with notable surges in Budapest and London. In Asia-Pacific, growth slowed to 2.1%. Economic headwinds in China and Southeast Asia dampened strong growth in India and Japan.
Outlook
Prime retail locations continue to outperform the broader market, thanks to their resilience during a period of economic uncertainty and shifting consumer behaviour. Inflation concerns are gradually easing and potential interest rate cuts may further stimulate consumer and business spending. Stabilising consumer confidence, higher real wages and a revival in tourism are expected to further support the retail market.
The world’s leading shopping streets are currently benefiting from a combination of economic resilience and renewed consumer willingness to spend. The strength of physical retail in iconic high streets remains evident: various markets are seeing striking double-digit growth, while other locations face pressure. Physical retail continues to be essential for brand experience and attracting consumers. This trend is expected to strengthen further as global economic conditions improve.
View the 35th edition of Main Streets Across the World here.
