HEMA Mierlo

The Hollandsche Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam, or H.E.M.A., opened its first department store in Amsterdam on 4 November 1926. Founders Leo Meyer and Arthur Isaac wanted to open a department store for “ordinary” people. Before this, department stores were very much aimed at wealthy people and most store personnel spoke French. HEMA, as it would later become known, was the first department store of its kind in the Netherlands. Products were priced at 10, 25 or 50 cents. And from day one, the essence of HEMA was defined as: optimistic, unique, clear, reliable, accessible and as typically Dutch.