On September 5th, at 10 a.m., HBC opened its doors in Amsterdam and launched its website shop followed by another two stores that opened on Thursday.

It's first time HBC has moved its flagship store beyond Canadian borders. 

According to Kerry Mader, HBC's Executive VP of Store Planning and Operations, the opening day of the HBC Netherlands store included a team bicycle ride to the ceremony followed by a large HBC-striped ribbon cutting ceremony.

In 2015, HBC.TO reached a peak of 28.10. That was the same year HBC announced it would be heading to Europe in 2017.

Photo Credit: Yahoo Finance

Nine more stores will open in September including Hudson's Bay Rotterdam and The Hague Stores, which opened on Thursday.

The stores will remain true to its brand, while tailoring some products to its Dutch consumer.

The company will showcase 100 Dutch brands along with a mix of international premium, mid-market and emerging brands.

“This is an historic moment in HBC’s 347-year history, marking the first Hudson’s Bay store ever to open outside of Canada and adding a new market to our diverse geographic footprint," said Jerry Storch, CEO, HBC. "Just 16 months after we announced our plans to enter the Dutch market, we are very excited to introduce our innovative, all-channel retail model to the Netherlands.” 

The department store based in the Netherlands will also have a variety of different food experiences offered inside designer stores.

According to HBC, the opening of the 10 new stores in the Netherlands has provided 1,600 jobs.

On Thursday, HBC Rotterdam had its own creative opening, with an over-sized elephant transported on the back of a trailer.

“We are overwhelmed by the response we have already received and are grateful for the cooperation and support from our landlords and local municipalities. I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our Dutch team to create the best possible stage to introduce the Hudson’s Bay experience to the Netherlands," said Storch.

On Thursday at 4 p.m. EDT, HBC.TO closed with a .82 increase at 13.01.

 Photo Credit: Yahoo FinanceHBC.TO TSX

Store openings in the Netherlands include:

September 5th: Amsterdam

September 7th: The Hague & Rotterdam

September 12th: Leiden and Breda

September 14th: Maastricht

September 20th: Zwolle & Almere

September 21st: Den Bosch & Tilburg.

After the individual openings, a grand opening will take place on September 19th in Amsterdam.

More HBC openings in Europe are expected to occur over the next year.