This imaginative development includes housing and shops anchored by a Vroom & Dreesmann department store, which trades on five floors and is one of the largest and liveliest of its kind in the Netherlands.

The shops are on two floors in a series of five galleries, which together form a graciously curved arcade, linking two of the town’s principal shopping streets. Sightlines have been carefully considered, so that the shop fronts on the ground and first floor are clearly visible. An unusual roof spans the 12-metre-wide arcade, infusing the centre with a soft and pleasant daylight that adds to the unique character of the building.

It was a delicate operation to fit a structure with such a strong individual character into an area that is so steeped in history. The key to success was to use appropriate high-quality materials and craftsmanship, and to then ensure that attention to detail was given the highest priority.. In this way, De Barones has added a special ingredient to the heart of Breda.

De Barones was winner of the 1998 NRW Award for Best Shopping Centre in The Netherlands. It also received an ICSC commendation in the same year from the Dutch Council of Shopping Centres.