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Centrum
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.
Spui 12, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 XA, Netherlands
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Centrum
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.
Spui 14-16, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 XA, Netherlands
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Nieuwmarkt
Whatever your dietary restrictions—from sugar- or gluten-free to organic, vegan, and halal—you will find something to hit your sweet spot here. There is plenty of regular candy, and the service is a treat, too.
Nieuwe Hoogstraat 4, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1011 HE, Netherlands
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Museum District
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.
Paulus Potterstraat 2-6, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 CZ, Netherlands
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Oosterdok
Peanut-butter lovers have found a new place of pilgrimage in De Plantagebuurt’s popular indie shopping street. The artisan creations here are made with freshly ground peanuts, organic coconut oil, and pure, natural ingredients. There are a dozen variations, including lemongrass-chili, date-cinnamon, and caramel–sea salt.
Czaar Peterstraat 169 E, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1018 PJ, Netherlands
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Oud-Zuid
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 one of only two shops in the country, you'll find every imaginable Nijntje product—clothes, books, toys, night-lights, toothbrushes, and more.
Scheldestraat 61, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1078 GH, Netherlands
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De Pijp
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-shaped cookie cutters and wooden speculaas molds are nifty (and useful) souvenirs. There are also dedicated Duikelman stores nearby for professional ovens and refrigerators, and cookbooks, porcelain, and tea towels.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 66-68, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1072 LM, Netherlands
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Amsterdam-Oost
This trusted gourmet food shop has more than 100 foreign cheeses and a large selection of local varieties, including various boerenkazen (artisanal 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 stunningly redesigned Oosterpark nearby.
Beukenplein 16, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1091 KH, Netherlands
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Oud-Zuid
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. Stock up on bread next door at the excellent French bakery Le Fournil de Sébastien and then head to nearby Beatrixpark for a picnic.
Olympiaplein 111, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1077 CV, Netherlands
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Oud-West
With an emphasis on "real food"—local, seasonal, and sometimes organic—and transparent production practices, this sustainable supermarket offers everything from fresh fish, meats, and cheeses to baked goods, organic wines, and even TV dinners. Note that Marqt takes credit and debit cards only and has multuple locations around the city, including nearby in the Oud-West along Bijderdijkstraat.
Bilderdijkstraat 108, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1053 KZ, Netherlands
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Red Light District
Owned by the pioneering Dutch chocolatier Kees Raat, this is the place to satisfy all your late-night sweet cravings. Raat’s bean-to-bar chocolate is made from superior-quality cocoa beans from small-scale plantations in the Dominican Republic. His bonbons come in flavors such as ras el hanout (a Moroccan spice blend), blood orange, and chipotle, and his hot chocolate is some of the city’s best. There’s also heavenly homemade ice cream in flavors like matcha and lemon cake, plus gin-and-tonic sorbet.
Warmoesstraat 135, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 JB, Netherlands
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Nieuwmarkt
On Nieuwmarkt square, next to the 15th-century former city gate known as De Waag, you'll find a charming farmers’ market on Saturday, where you can stock up on organic cheese, bread, meat, fruit, and vegetables. There's also a flea market on Sundays in summer, with art, books, and other curiosities.
Between Geldersekade and Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 CR, Netherlands
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Jordaan
The quiet square around Noorderkerk transforms into a lively marketplace twice a week. Every Saturday (9 to 4), 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.
Noordermarkt, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1015 MV, Netherlands
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Oosterdok
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.
KNSM-laan 19, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1019 LA, Netherlands
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Centrum
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 watches, backpacks, and sunglasses.
Molsteeg 10, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 SM, Netherlands
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Museum District
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.
Jacob Obrechtstraat 38, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 KM, Netherlands
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De Pijp | Market
This century-old market on Albert Cuypstraat is the beating heart of De Pijp. It's open Monday–Saturday, rain or shine, and you're likely to hear the vendors barking out their bargains over the sound of a street musician. Stalls sell food, clothing, fabrics, plants, and household goods from all over the world. Be sure to try some Dutch snacks, like freshly made stroopwafels (thin waffle cookies with a layer of caramel sandwiched in between) or patat (french fries served with mayonnaise or satay sauce).
Albert Cuypstraat between Ferdinand Bolstraat and Van Woustraat, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
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Jordaan
The largest covered art and antiques market in the Netherlands is a cooperative, housing more than 55 dealers and 10,000 objects. You may have to browse through a lot of junk, but you wouldn't be the first to end up with a great buy on an antique doll, a first-edition book, or military memorabilia.
Elandsgracht 109, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1016 TT, Netherlands
Shop Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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Red Light District
This antiquarian's heaven, housed in a former department store, offers five floors of treasures on Amsterdam history. Specialties of this family-run business include books on pre-18th-century art, classical archaeology, architecture, biology, and the Olympic Games, as well as topographical maps and prints. It also offers a fair share of other literature nicely shelved by subject.
Oude Hoogstraat 14-18, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 CE, Netherlands
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Oud-Zuid
Chocoholics, take note: this Oud-Zuid institution not only sells handmade bonbons in sophisticated flavors like Earl Grey, cranberry-caramel, and black sesame–lychee, but will also custom-design just about anything you can imagine in chocolate. Several options are available for those with lactose, gluten, or cacao allergies. There is also a new shop on Molsteeg 11, offering ArtiChoc's most famous in-house specialty, Hemelse Stenen or ''Heavenly Stones," meltingly soft chocolate squares with nuts.
Koninginneweg 141, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1075 CM, Netherlands
