German webshop Otto withdraws from Dutch market after more than 40 years
The German e-commerce company Otto is withdrawing from the Dutch market after more than four decades of operation, according to the German trade publication Lebensmittelzeitung. Otto has officially launched a “final sale” on its Dutch website, signaling the end of its presence in the Netherlands.
Founded in 1979, Otto was a well-known name in the Dutch mail-order industry. The company evolved from a traditional catalog-based business into a modern online retailer.
By the early 2000s, Otto increasingly focused on e-commerce, culminating in a full transition to an “online-only” strategy by 2010. Its product range included fashion, home goods, and electronics.
In 2023, Otto announced plans to merge its Dutch, Austrian, and Swiss operations to achieve greater scale efficiencies. However, recent developments reveal that the Otto Group will now concentrate exclusively on the German-speaking markets of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Currently, about 70 employees work at Otto Nederland. No official statements have been made regarding their future employment or potential layoffs.
