“That’s usually not an easy question to answer,” says Onno Praalder, who together with his brother Stephan represents the third generation at the helm of the well-known Praalder Audio, Video and Home Appliances Centre on Theresiastraat. “But fortunately, we have the solution.”

People often order new built-in appliances online, only to discover upon delivery that the dishwasher has a slightly different size or the fridge door doesn’t match the existing kitchen layout. The result: everything goes straight back. It’s a story Praalder hears all the time. “If you want to deliver the right product, you really need to visit the customer first. You have to see what’s already there, understand their wishes and look at how the kitchen is put together.”

In-house installers

According to Praalder, large retail chains no longer have the staff for this kind of service, especially since the pandemic, and often get stuck as a result. “We still work with our own flexible installation team. They carry out a free home visit, prepare a quotation and then install everything that plugs in, with care and attention. The old appliances are removed and disposed of in an environmentally responsible way. And after installation, we remain available for advice, everyday use or in case of a fault.”

Replacing built-in appliances is also the perfect moment to upgrade a kitchen as a whole. “There has been enormous progress in recent years,” says Praalder. “There are now freezers that never need defrosting and fridges with zero-degree zones where fruit and vegetables stay fresh up to twelve times longer. All of this comes with LED lighting and soft-closing doors. Dishwashers have become so quiet that many models open automatically at the end of the programme.”

From entry-level appliances to the very top segment, Praalder offers the full range. “That’s partly because in 2024 we joined the Electro World collective, which includes three hundred independent retailers across the Netherlands,” Praalder explains. “It gives us purchasing advantages with leading brands such as Miele, Bosch, Siemens, AEG, ATAG, Liebherr, Samsung and ASKO, benefits that are passed directly on to our customers. We also receive marketing support, while remaining fully independent, just as we have been for the past 94 years.”

Two-phase power supply

Even when Praalder installs the appliances, upgrading an existing kitchen can still present challenges. “Induction cooking has many advantages,” Praalder says. “It’s fast, safe because there’s no open flame, easy to clean and maintain, and electricity is better for the environment than gas. Everyone wants to switch to electric cooking, but many homes in The Hague were built long before that was ever considered. In most cases, you need a dedicated two-phase power connection.” True to form, Praalder also takes care of that. “We arrange everything through our network of trusted, affordable electricians.”

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