Bart Smit

Bart Smit was a Dutch retail brand specializing primarily in toys and, during part of its history, in multimedia products and consumer electronics. The business began on 1 June 1967 as a small shop in Volendam. It was named after its owner, Bart Smit, and initially operated with a broad household-oriented assortment that included toys, domestic appliances, and kitchenware. Over time, the retailer narrowed its commercial focus and became principally associated with toys and children's entertainment. Until 1995, the chain operated under the longer name “Speelgoedpaleis Bart Smit,” or “Toy Palace Bart Smit.” The shortened Bart Smit name subsequently became the principal consumer-facing identity. The chain's development reflected the growth of specialist toy retailing in the Netherlands, with larger stores and a more concentrated assortment than the original local shop. In 1985, Bart Smit was acquired by Blokker Holding, placing it within one of the Netherlands' largest retail groups and giving the brand access to the group's purchasing, store-development, and retail infrastructure. Bart Smit also broadened its role in entertainment retail. In 1999 it established E-Plaza, a subsidiary focused on computer games. This reflected the increasing importance of video games and electronic entertainment within the toy and leisure market. Bart Smit itself was also associated with multimedia and electronics in addition to its core toy business, although toys remained the defining category of the chain. The brand expanded beyond the Netherlands in 1989, when it opened its first Belgian shop. By 2008, the chain had 189 stores in the Netherlands, 51 in Belgium, and one in Luxembourg. The Belgian estate included locations in both Flanders and Wallonia, giving Bart Smit a presence across the country's principal language regions. This store network made it a significant regional toy retailer rather than solely a local Dutch chain. Bart Smit's independent retail identity was ultimately absorbed into a broader restructuring of Blokker Holding's specialty retail portfolio. Beginning in 2017, the Dutch Bart Smit stores were progressively converted into Intertoys stores. The conversion process took longer than initially expected because some Bart Smit locations were situated too close to existing Intertoys branches. The Belgian branches were sold and renamed Maxi Toys. In October 2017, Blokker Holding sold Bart Smit, Toys XL, and Intertoys to British investment firm Alteri. These changes ended Bart Smit's operation as a distinct retail chain. The brand is therefore best treated as a defunct Dutch retail identity whose historical footprint covered toys, games, multimedia, and related electronics across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Bart Smit began on 1 June 1967 as a small shop in Volendam in the Netherlands. The business was named for its owner, Bart Smit, and initially sold a mixed selection of toys, household appliances, and kitchenware. Its early name, used until 1995, was Speelgoedpaleis Bart Smit, meaning Toy Palace Bart Smit. As the retailer developed, it moved toward a specialist toy format and built a recognizable chain identity around children's products and entertainment. In 1985, Bart Smit was acquired by Blokker Holding. The acquisition integrated the chain into a larger Dutch retail group and supported its growth as a multi-store operation. Bart Smit later extended its offer beyond traditional toys into multimedia, games, and electronics. In 1999, it created E-Plaza, a daughter company specializing in computer games, reflecting the growing commercial importance of video games within the broader toy and leisure market. The chain expanded internationally in 1989 by opening its first Belgian store. Its regional footprint subsequently included the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In 2008, Bart Smit had 189 stores in the Netherlands, 51 in Belgium, and one in Luxembourg. The Belgian network comprised outlets in Flanders and Wallonia, while the Netherlands remained the chain's principal market. Bart Smit's separate identity ended during the restructuring of Blokker Holding's toy businesses. In 2017, Dutch Bart Smit stores began to be converted into Intertoys outlets. The process was not immediate because certain Bart Smit locations were too close to existing Intertoys stores. The Belgian branches were sold and renamed Maxi Toys. In October 2017, Blokker Holding sold Bart Smit, Toys XL, and Intertoys to British investor Alteri. Bart Smit consequently ceased to operate as a distinct retail chain, although its historical role in Dutch and Belgian toy retail remains associated with the Bart Smit name.

• 2017

  Dutch stores converted to Intertoys

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Blokker Holding begins converting Dutch Bart Smit locations into Intertoys stores, ending the brand's separate Dutch store presence.

• 2017

  Sale to Alteri

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Blokker Holding sells Bart Smit, Toys XL, and Intertoys to British investor Alteri in October.

• 2008

  Regional store network reaches three markets

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  The chain is reported to operate 189 Dutch stores, 51 Belgian stores, and one store in Luxembourg.

• 1999

  E-Plaza established

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Bart Smit launches E-Plaza as a subsidiary specializing in computer games.

• 1995

  Shortened brand name adopted

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  The chain stops using the longer Speelgoedpaleis Bart Smit name and operates under the shorter Bart Smit identity.

• 1989

  Entry into Belgium

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Bart Smit opens its first Belgian shop, beginning its expansion outside the Netherlands.

• 1985

  Acquisition by Blokker Holding

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Blokker Holding acquires Bart Smit and adds the chain to its Dutch retail portfolio.

• 1967

  First Bart Smit shop opens in Volendam

  [1]Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org

  Bart Smit starts on 1 June as a small Volendam shop selling toys alongside household appliances and kitchenware.

A mass-market Dutch specialty retailer centered on toys and children's entertainment, with additional exposure to games, multimedia, and electronics.

• Toy retail · 1967

  Toys

  Toys were Bart Smit's core commercial category and the main basis of its specialist retail identity. The chain evolved from a general shop into a toy-focused retailer, offering products for children and families through a network of dedicated stores in the Netherlands and neighboring markets.

• Video games · 1999

  Computer games

  Computer games became an important adjacent category as electronic entertainment grew within the toy and leisure market. Bart Smit supported this area through E-Plaza, a daughter company established in 1999 and focused specifically on computer games.

• Consumer electronics retail

  Multimedia and electronics

  Alongside toys, Bart Smit operated with an assortment that included multimedia products and consumer electronics. These categories broadened the chain's relevance to games and home entertainment, although the retailer continued to be principally identified with toys.

• Household retail · 1967

  Household appliances and kitchenware

  Household appliances and kitchenware formed part of the original Volendam shop's mixed assortment. As Bart Smit developed into a specialist toy chain, these categories became less central to the brand's positioning.

• 2017

  Convert Dutch Bart Smit stores to IntertoysGeneration change

  Background

  Blokker Holding was consolidating overlapping toy-retail brands, and some Bart Smit locations were close to existing Intertoys branches.

  Action taken

  Dutch Bart Smit stores were progressively rebranded as Intertoys stores.

  Aftermath

  The conversion ended Bart Smit's independent Dutch store presence, with implementation taking longer than expected because of store-location overlap.

  Source

• 2017

  Sell the toy-retail businesses to AlteriM&A

  Background

  Blokker Holding reorganized and divested parts of its retail portfolio, including its principal toy chains.

  Action taken

  Bart Smit, Toys XL, and Intertoys were sold to British investor Alteri in October 2017.

  Aftermath

  The transaction followed the conversion of Dutch Bart Smit stores and contributed to the end of Bart Smit as a distinct operating chain.

  Source

• 1999

  Create E-Plaza for computer gamesStrategy

  Background

  Bart Smit expanded its entertainment offering at a time when computer games were becoming a more important retail category.

  Action taken

  The company established E-Plaza as a daughter company specializing in computer games.

  Aftermath

  E-Plaza became part of Bart Smit's broader multimedia and electronic-entertainment activity.

  Source

1. 1Bart Smiten.wikipedia.org