Apple continues European retail expansion with new Istanbul, Den Haag outlets

Construction progress on the second Istanbul store | Courtesy Elma Dirgisi

Apple will bring its retail experience to Istanbul's Akasya Shopping Center in September, according to Turkish blog Elma Dergisi. If that timeline holds true, it would be just five months after the opening of Apple's first Turkish outlet in the upscale Zorlu Center.

Unlike the Zorlu Center store — which sits beneath unique glass box reminiscent of the flagship Fifth Avenue shop — the Akasya location appears to be a smaller, more standard in-mall design. At least two more Turkish outlets are thought to be in the works as Apple ramps up its presence in the region.

Apple opened an online storefront in Turkey last October, and CEO Tim Cook later met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul to discuss the brick-and-mortar locations as well as additional partnerships with the government.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, will add a third location to its Apple Store inventory this weekend with the opening of a new outlet in The Hague. Apple has leased a prominent space in The Passage, a famous covered shopping street in the city more widely as the home of the International Criminal Court than as a shopping destination.

Apple currently operates retail stores in the Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Haarlem.