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Whether you go for Baroque antiques or cutting-edge fashion, the variety of goods available in Amsterdam’s boutiques, street markets, and concept stores is mind-boggling, and hunting for that special purchase akin to grand entertainment.
If you enjoy the thrill of the chase, explore the charming, mazelike streets of the Jordaan and The Nine Streets, in the Western Canal Ring, where you'll stumble upon a surprising number of vintage fashion boutiques, high-end denim brands, art galleries, local design outlets, and specialty-food stores.
For high-end shopping, Amsterdam's priciest street is the P.?C. Hooftstraat, in the Museum District–-affectionately called "the P.?C." (pronounced “pay say”). Porsches and Range Rovers are parked on the street, and many shop interiors mimic stately Dutch mansions, replete with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and antique furnishings. Don't neglect the nearby Van Baerlestraat, Willemsparkweg, and Cornelis Schuytstraat, where you're likely to discover a hyperchic home accessory or premium investment piece for your wardrobe. At the other end of the scale, join the crowds on the Leidsestraat, Kalverstraat, Damrak, Rokin, and Nieuwendijk, where flagship stores, major chains, and department stores stand shoulder-to-shoulder with inexpensive fashion outlets and cheesy souvenir shops.
If that's all a bit too noisy and crowded, head to the Spiegelkwartier for a quieter, more refined shopping experience, with proportionately escalated prices. You’ll find elegant antiques shops whose beautiful displays include antique art, maps, furnishings, jewelry, and clocks. Collectors, museum curators, and antiques dealers routinely shop here for old Delft and Makkum treasures. If you have time, visit one of the daily outdoor markets: the bustling Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp is one of the oldest and best known. Be sure to explore the neighborhood’s many concept stores and hip indie boutiques as well, and make a pilgrimage to nearby Utrechtsestraat for its fantastic food, fashion, and lifestyle stores. There are lesser-known Sunday markets, like the organic Pure Markt at Frankendael Park and the Maker Market at De Hallen, or check out the Sunday Market and Neighbourfood Market at Westergasfabriek.
Founded by a duo of graphic and industrial designers, this canal-belt store boasts the Netherlands’ largest collection of restored vintage industrial lighting from around the world, much of it from the early 20th century. Design devotees will be delighted. The store is open by appointment only.
What began in the early '70s as an erotic magazine outlet has grown into reputedly the largest brick-and-mortar English-language book emporium on the continent. True to its name, the shop is American-owned, but the selection is broad and eclectic, running the gamut from crime fiction to New Age and Manga. Students, teachers, and senior citizens (on Monday only) receive a 10% discount with a valid ID.
Rarely does anyone leave this renowned shop empty-handed—not with its stock of beautiful oversize art and photography books spanning architecture, landscape design, and natural history.
For the city's best selection of international newspapers, creative magazines, and highbrow periodicals, as well as the freshest local offerings, find your way to the unmissable red-and-white awning on the Spui.
At this award-winning perfumery you'll find niche perfumes and premium cosmetics and skin care by brands such as BDK Parfums, ByTerry, Lorenzo Villoresi, and Aromatherapy Associates. There are also signature treatments in the in-house city spa using the organic skincare brand Tata Harper and luxurious Italian products by Santa Maria Novella.
Even if you're not in the market for a new rock, the free, guided tour of (reportedly) the world's oldest diamond-polishing factory is certainly worthwhile. You'll learn all about the industry's "four Cs"—carat, color, clarity, and cut—and get to watch highly skilled diamond cutters plying their trade. There's also a replica of Coster's most famous cut: the Koh-I-Noor diamond, one of the prized gems of the British crown jewels.
True turophiles will follow their noses to this exceptional "cheese room," with hundreds of varieties of the world's best cheeses on offer. There are rare finds from France, Italy, Greece, and Switzerland, but we urge you to go Dutch and try Le Petit Doruvael, an aromatic, gooey, washed-rind cheese, or Olde Remeker, a mature, organic farmstead cheese with satisfyingly crunchy crystals.
Most department stores and toy shops in the Netherlands carry this iconic Dutch children's brand, which you may know as Miffy, but here, at the only dedicated Miffy store in the country, you'll find every imaginable Nijntje product—clothes, books, toys, night-lights, toothbrushes, and more.
Hands-down the best kitchenware store in Amsterdam. The city’s chefs and home cooks crowd into this family-run business for excellent advice on everything from oyster knives to stand mixers to espresso machines. Tulip-shape cookie cutters and wooden speculaas (spiced shortbread biscuits) molds are nifty (and useful) souvenirs.
This trusted gourmet food shop has more than 100 foreign cheeses and a large selection of local varieties, including various boerenkazen (raw milk farmhouse cheeses) and a few own-brand labels. There's also a well-chosen assortment of charcuterie, artisan bread, and more than 150 wines, with an emphasis on organic, biodynamic, and French bottles. It's a perfect stop for picnic essentials before heading to the lovely Oosterpark nearby.
This gallery-cum-store carries contemporary furniture and innovative home accessories from top Dutch designers like Maarten Baas and Hella Jongerius, as well as international names like Alcarol, Arflex, and Vitra. You can find custom-made scrap-wood cabinets by Piet Hein Eek, as well as artistic cutting boards, innovative lighting, and statement area rugs. The look? Modern minimalism juxtaposed with colorful faux plants made of felt and playful clay furniture.
This culty Amsterdam kidswear clothing label is known for its GOTS-certified minimalist unisex apparel for ages up to 12. The brand's 624-square-foot boutique, which opened in the fall of 2019, is a playground for big and small with a soothing color scheme and a cozy book corner.
Here it's all about the nifty '50s: gala dresses, petticoats, wedding gowns, furs, handbags, top hats, bow ties, and linens from the olden days (reminder: secondhand hankies can make great gifts).
If you're looking for new, vintage, antique or custom-made jewelry by a trusted name in the local jewelry scene, a visit to this family-owned store, situated on a tiny street near the University of Amsterdam, is a must. From authentic Art Deco earrings and chunky 80s gold vintage chain bracelets to classy, contemporary engagement rings, you'll find it here. By appointment only.
With more than 400 cheeses, all aged in the shop’s very own cheese cave, this is easily one of the best cheese shops in the Netherlands—and, some say, in all of Europe. There’s also an interesting selection of oils from Provence-based Château d’Estoublon, as well as charcuterie and crackers.
Stop here to discover handcrafted gifts and unique souvenirs—everything in stock is made in or around Amsterdam, and each has its own special story. This spacious shop in De Hallen sells original products from over 90 local creatives, artisans, and independent makers. The impressive range of products spans from food and drinks to art, books, jewelry, sustainable fashion, and other novel finds.
The lighting, furniture, carpets, housewares, and other objects at this temple of design—started by famed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders—are truly “mooi,” Dutch for beautiful. If you can’t transport a larger piece, this is the perfect place to pick up a unique vase or scarf to take home.
Invest in some of the city’s most stylish shorts, chinos, and cheerful swim trunks at the B Corp-certified Amsterdam-based menswear brand’s flagship store. Designed locally and handmade in Portugal, MR MARVIS first became known for the “perfect shorts” but has since expanded its sustainably produced menswear range. It’s loved by locals for details such as secret pockets and partially elasticized waistbands for the “ultimate fit.”
The quiet square around Noorderkerk transforms into a lively marketplace twice a week. Every Saturday (9 am to 4 pm), it’s home to an organic boerenmarkt (farmers' market) cherished by local foodies for the impressive selection of fruits and vegetables, local honey, plus plenty of meats and cheese. On Monday mornings (until 1 pm), there's a flea market full of secondhand clothing, books, antiques, and memorabilia.
This self-titled "Cabinet of Curiosities" is styled on the Wunderkammers of yesteryear, with an eclectic collection of jewelry, men's grooming products, framed insect specimens, housewares, and curiosa. The goods come from around the globe, spanning Sweden to Malaysia.
From Sachertorte to sabayon, and almost every Dutch cookie imaginable, Holtkamp has been a master of European pastry classics since 1969. However, this local family business is just as beloved for savory specialties like croquettes (oblong-shape fried meat snack), which can be sampled in quality eetcafes (cafés with food) all over town. On Saturday morning, the line's out the door.
At this beloved chocolaterie, patisserie, and tearoom, the civilized congregate for afternoon tea in the elegant parlor with its 18th-century wood paneling. The front of the store attends to a steady stream of chocoholics—no less cultivated, just on the go.
Casual, preppy threads for men, women, and children can be found here, along with home wares, toys, and toiletries. There are other locations in Centrum, Oud-Zuid, and the Eastern Canal Ring.
While the Haarlemmerdijk shopping street is home to a wide range of noteworthy stores, this one stands out for its collection of global lifestyle brands dedicated to sustainability. With a collection spanning two levels, there's plenty to browse, from apparel, accessories, and books, to stationary, home goods and more. Occasional events like hot sauce tastings and live music enhance the shopping experience. Foodies will enjoy the cacao bar with a range of artisanal chocolate, raw cacao, fair-trade coffee, and baked goods on offer.
A William-and-Mary-era harpsichord? One of the printed maps featured in Vermeer's Woman with a Lute? An 18th-century bed-curtain tie-up? Or a pewter nautilus cup redolent of a Golden Age still life? All these and more may be available in Amsterdam's famous array of antiques stores in the city's "Mirror Quarter," centered on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat and its continuation, Spiegelgracht. If perusing fine art is more your scene, the Spiegelkwartier also houses around 20 contemporary art galleries and 10 ethnographic and Asian art specialists. But—with five double-sided blocks' worth of shops and galleries, from the Golden Bend of the Herengracht nearly to the Rijksmuseum—this section of town often requires a royal House of Orange budget.
Entering UN feels more like walking into an art gallery than a shoe shop. And it's no wonder: the creative mind behind this brand's flagship store—and the various models of the signature floating-heeled pump contained therein—is Rem D. Koolhaas, nephew of the famous Pritzker Prize–winning architect Rem Koolhaas. In addition to architectural footwear for him and her, there's also a selection of striking bags and watches.
Set inside a former bank building, this massive gallery space showcases rotating exhibitions and performances, with a focus on the avant-garde. Check the website for the latest offerings.
On Saturday, Amsterdam’s finest organic and artisanal food producers descend on a small square behind the Concertgebouw. There's a fishmonger, a granola and muesli specialist, a pancake stall popular with local kids, and, of course, plenty of organic produce from local farms.
Stock up on local cheese from Erik's Delicatessen and dried fennel sausages from Brandt & Levie.
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