Shopping center in Sint-Niklaas : the complete guide to Waasland & VAT refund
Planning a shopping trip to Sint-Niklaas ? The city in East Flanders is home to one of Belgium's largest and most popular malls : Waasland Shopping Center.
It draws visitors from across the region and beyond. Whether coming for fashion, food, or a full day out, here is everything to know before visiting, including how non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on their purchases.
Also looking for shopping beyond Sint-Niklaas? Discover the best places for outlet shopping in Belgium.
Key takeaways
- With 140 stores covering fashion, beauty, food and lifestyle, Waasland Shopping Center has something for every type of shopper.
- Sint-Niklaas sits between Antwerp and Ghent on the main railway line, making Waasland an easy and strategic stop on any Belgian city-hopping itinerary.
- Non-EU visitors can claim VAT back (up to 90% of the VAT paid) on eligible purchases made in Belgium.
What is Waasland Shopping Center ?
Waasland Shopping Center is one of Belgium's largest malls, with over 140 stores covering fashion, beauty, food, and lifestyle.
Open seven days a week, it draws shoppers from across East Flanders and beyond and is particularly popular with visitors combining a day trip with a stop in Antwerp or Ghent.
Where is Waasland Shopping Center Sint Niklaas ?
Located on the outskirts of Sint-Niklaas, Waasland Shopping Center is one of Belgium's most popular retail destinations.
Sint-Niklaas itself is a city of around 82,000 people in East Flanders, sitting directly between Antwerp and Ghent, on the main railway line. It is just 22 minutes by train from either city.
So it is a natural and easy stop on any Belgian itinerary, whether travelling by rail or by car
📍The address is Kapelstraat 100, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, well signposted from the E17 motorway.
Visiting Ghent during your trip ? Check out the shopping guide to Ghent for more tax-free shopping ideas in the area.
What to shop at Waasland ?
The mall features an impressive selection of both international brands and local Belgian shops, from high fashion to everyday essentials.
For fashion, the lineup includes international names like H&M, Hollister Co., and Vero Moda, alongside CKS, a Belgian fashion brand known for its contemporary, casual-yet-stylish clothing with signature prints.
Shoe lovers will appreciate a dedicated choice of footwear stores including Torfs, Tims and Tamaris. And for beauty, Kiko Milano is a popular stop for cosmetics and skincare at accessible price points.
For visitors looking to bring back a taste of Belgium, the Delhaize supermarket inside the mall is worth a detour. Stock up on Belgian chocolate brands, speculoos biscuits (Lotus is the local icon), Belgian waffles in vacuum packaging, and regional beers, all ideal as gifts or edible souvenirs. These everyday Belgian staples are often cheaper and more authentic at a supermarket than in tourist shops.
VAT refund at Waasland Shopping Center : what non-EU visitors need to know
Shopping at Waasland as a visitor from outside the European Union ? You must know that most purchases are eligible for a VAT refund.
Belgium's standard VAT rate is 21%, so the savings on a solid shopping trip can be significant.
To qualify for a VAT refund in Belgium, visitors must meet all of the following conditions :
- Be a resident of a country outside the European Union
- Be visiting temporarily (stay of less than 6 months / 183 days)
- Reach a minimum threshold of €125.01 (VAT incl.) in eligible purchases during your trip
- Export the goods in personal luggage within 3 months of the end of the purchase month
- Purchase new, unused goods from a professional retailer with a valid VAT invoice
- Obtain Customs validation before departing the EU
How to get your VAT refund in Sint Niklaas with Zapptax ?
Zapptax makes the VAT refund process easier and entirely digital.
Here's how it works, step by step:
1. Shop at any store in Waasland (or anywhere in Belgium) and ask for a VAT invoice made out to Zapptax
2. Upload your invoices in the Zapptax app
3. Zapptax generates your tax-free form automatically
4. Validate at Customs before leaving the EU (at Brussels Airport or another EU exit point)
5. Receive your refund. Up to 90% of the VAT paid, directly to your account
Unlike traditional tax-free services, Zapptax lets visitors combine purchases from different stores across their entire trip to reach the €125 threshold.
Conclusion
Waasland Shopping Center in Sint-Niklaas is a genuinely impressive destination with more than 140 stores and great facilities.
For non-EU visitors, it also represents a real opportunity to shop and reclaim Belgian VAT efficiently.
Download Zapptax before the trip and turn every purchase into a tax refund.
FAQ
1. What is the best shopping center in Sint-Niklaas?
Waasland Shopping Center is the largest shopping mall in Belgium on a single ground floor, and by far the most well-known retail destination in Sint-Niklaas. With 140 stores spanning fashion, beauty, food, lifestyle and kids, it comfortably covers all shopping needs in one visit.
2. Can non-EU visitors get a VAT refund when shopping in Sint-Niklaas ?
Yes. Non-EU residents who spend at least €125 (VAT incl.) on eligible goods can claim a refund on Belgian VAT. Goods must be exported within 3 months and validated by Customs before leaving the EU.
3. How to get VAT refund in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium ?
The easiest way to claim tax back in Belgium (as a non-EU resident) is to use the Zapptax app. First, request a VAT invoice in Zapptax's name when purchasing and upload it to the app, then receive your tax-free form and get it validated at Customs on departure. You’ll receive your refund, up to 90% of the VAT paid.
