Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Shop 'til you drop

Amsterdam Insider

There are plenty of emerging Dutch designers

For all the locals-only info on the Amsterdam shopping scene, let our Insider lead you through the best of retail therapy options.

Specialist shops

Amsterdam has had a deep love affair with specialist shops for centuries. Big shopping centres don't exist here, so get your retail fix along the many quaint outdoor shopping side streets.

The 9 Straatjes specialise in vintage and smaller fashion labels. Egelantiersdwarsstraat is impossibly cute and Elandsgracht, Leliegracht and Prinsenstraat nearby are good for a wander. Haarlemmerstraat is funky and more upbeat, as is the Overtoom. Fat wallets can head south to the PC Hooftstraat for big designer labels and Cornelis Schuytstraat for boutiques. The Utrechtsestraat is a favourite with fashionistas.

Design lovers

Design lovers must go to rozen Fountain, the temple of Dutch design. Droog is the infamous collective/label of Dutch designers with a quirky gallery. Nijhof & Lee next door has an extensive Dutch design book collection. Moooi Gallery is the showroom of The Netherlands most progressive eponymous furniture and design label. Check out the design interiors in Lairesse Apotheek, the coolest chemist in town, and go to Concrete and SPRMRKT for the edgiest in clothing design.

Casual fashion

For fashion, Amsterdam does casual best, which is great because as a traveller you'll never be underdressed. G-Star is well known, and for seriously luxurious denim head to Blueblood, Tenue de Nïmes or Denham the Jeanmaker. Heavens Playground has cool streetwear and Precinct 5 has a killer interior.

Designer wear and department stores

For Dutch designer wear, Marlies Dekkers does outrageous lingerie, United Nude offers architectural heels, Catta Donkersloot does affordable signature dresses and Claes Iversen does tailor-made old-fashioned elegance with a twist. YDU and Wella Warenhaus feature more emerging Dutch designers. Van Ravenstein stocks Viktor & Rolf and a selection of fabulous Belgian designers.

De Bijenkorf, Holland's Harrods, also carries Dutch labels. The new posh top-floor eatery is a welcome respite. Check out the Dutch design kitchenware and cards from Nijntje, (or Miffy as we know her), who is Dutch — not Japanese. She has her own shop as well, which will make you go gaga. More so than clogs or cheese, the department store Hema is Holland. It's like Target, but cooler. Good for gifts, basics and kids stuff.

Accessories

For accessories, the vintage sunglasses at the Brilmuseum are priceless. Otten & Zoon (Eerste van der Helststraat 31; phone +31 20 662 9724) has the coolest collection of orthopaedic shoes and modern clogs — yes, modern clogs. Mono Amsterdam has fabulous bags made with retro inspired prints.

Independent music

Concerto has the most extensive offering of independent music I've ever seen, and you can also buy tickets for gigs here.

Markets

Albert Cuypmarkt is where you should come for fruit and veggies, cheap clothes, cheese and herring. Pick up snacks along the way. For local food shopping, head to Ten Katemarkt or Dappermarkt. Waterlooplein is super for second-hand clothes: check the worst looking stalls for the best finds! Catch more vintage clothes and wares at Noordermarkt on Monday mornings. IJ Hallen on the first weekend of every month is a mammoth flea market.

Farmers markets

Noordermarkt and Nieuwmarkt farmers markets are on Saturdays. Marqt is a boutique supermarket that bring the best of Dutch regional produce to the city. Yum-o.

Genuine mishmash

Head to Kinkerstraat, Bilderdijkstraat and Jan Pieter Heijestraat for a mishmash of Surinamese eateries, Turkish supermarkets and Chinese massage parlours. This is also a place where you'll find yourself to be the only tourist on the block — a cool feeling whenever and wherever you travel.

Inexpensive gifts or souvenirs

For inexpensive gifts or souvenirs, buy stroopwafels (syrup waffles) or Dutch cocoa packed in old-fashioned tins at Albert Heijn, Dam Square. You'll find something for your mum or nanna at the multistorey Heinen canal-side ceramic superstoresat Muntplein which stocks traditional blue and white Delft pieces or try more contemporary Dutch design objects for the "modern mum"!

Got any more shopping tips? Have your say using the comments form below.

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Topics:

Amsterdam Shopping Netherlands Provincie Noord-Holland

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