Department store group Harvey Nichols is considering opening its first shop in continental Europe in Amsterdam.

Property investment group Emmes, which is developing the new Marks & Spencer shop on the Rokin, one of the city’s major streets, is in talks with the Harvey Nichols group about the property next door, Dutch newspaper HetParool reported.

Emmes owner Martin Smit said the firm was still in talks over the deal but they were “heading in the right direction”.

Work is expected to start on demolishing the former Fortis bank on the Rokin early 2014. The two British department stores would then open their doors for business in 2015.

If Harvey Nichols does open in the Netherlands it will be serious competition for the Dutch Bijenkorf department store located nearby.