108 Best Places to Shop in Amsterdam, Netherlands

By the beginning of the 18th century, Amsterdam had a virtual monopoly in the diamond industry in Europe, so when diamonds were discovered in South Africa in 1869, there was a windfall for Amsterdam's Jewish communities, a third of whom worked in the diamond trade. Built in 1879, the headquarters of GASSAN was once home to the Boas diamond-polishing factory, the largest in the world, where 357 diamond-polishing machines processed around 8,000–10,000 carats of rough diamonds per week. Today, GASSAN offers polishing and grading demonstrations and free hour-long tours, in more than 27 languages, of the building and its glittering collection of diamonds and jewelry. After the tour, have a stone set to your taste by one of GASSAN's expert goldsmiths. There are other locations in Centrum, Museum District, and at Schiphol Airport.

Born from a progressive platform devoted to exploring the front-lines of avant-garde and underground culture, this fashion and design concept store showcases men's and women's fashion, shoes, accessories, and housewares by brands such as Alex Zeta, Han Kjøbenhavn, Ninamounah, Ximon Lee, Yume Yume, Wolter Pot, and many others.

This charming shop sells all manner of toys, including the entire collection of Brio wooden trains, an extensive selection of puzzles, and a wide range of Pokémon cards, for kids up to age 12.

This prizewinning artisan bakery, which mills its own flour and uses no additives or preservatives, was founded by the Hartog family back in 1896, and despite its good name (or perhaps because of it) remains a small-scale operation to this day. To sample the whole-wheat specialist’s breads and Dutch treats, such as speculaas (spiced shortbread biscuits) and oliebollen or Dutch beignets (a must-try in the holiday season), join the queue.

One of the Netherlands' most popular stores offers original and affordable own-brand household items, clothing, stationery, gardening tools, and bicycle equipment. Shelves are also stocked with other goodies cherished by the Dutch, such as smoked sausages, traditional candy (think cinnamon candy canes and salty licorice), and pink cream custard cakes. You could call it the Dutch equivalent of Target in that you walk in to buy one thing and leave with a lot more. See the website for other locations.

Cool, contemporary Dutch design meets practical handbags, shoes, and accessories in this inviting boutique; geometry has never been more colorful or portable.

The idea for this “sustainable warehouse” came from owner Magali Heuberger’s love of handicrafts and her drive to make eco alternatives accessible to people. The result? A destination store with a delightful selection of quirky, brilliantly made homewares and gifts with "a solid story."

Filled with teak-wood canisters and jars bearing Latin inscriptions, fragrant with the perfume of seeds, flowers, and medicinal potions, this health-and-wellness store has been in operation on Nieuwmarkt since 1743. Gold-lettered wooden drawers, barrels, and bins contain not only spices and herbs, but also teas and a daunting array of dropjes (licorice).

For antique European pewter from the 15th through 19th century, Jan Beekhuizen is the authority. His renowned store also carries antique furniture, Delftware, metalware, and other collectible treasures.

This quirky concept shop, owned and operated by two sisters, is home to their own clothing label mixed in with a unique collection of vintage and handmade items. Shop for funky clothes and accessories, including colorful sunglasses, clunky boots, and funky jewelry. A second shop is located at Haarlemmerdijk 143 in the Jordaan.

Kids 12 and younger will enjoy this toy store filled with books, puzzles, games, wooden toys, and plenty more. 

Established in 1994, the city's first "smart shop" promotes mind-body awareness. Besides the usual "natural drug" suspects, you'll find a selection of "harm reduction kits," said to speed recovery following a hyperconscious weekend. In the back of the shop you can experiment under the safe guidance of the knowledgeable staff, accompanied by loungy beats.

A short walk from the Noordermarkt, this stylish boutique offers a curated selection of women's clothing, from knitwear to soft blouses and lacy lingerie, plus delicate jewelry, chic accessories, and home goods, all displayed in a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The friendly owner (and namesake) handpicks this bespoke collection herself, with new additions added weekly.

This fragrant corner shop has been hand-making its own brand of soap since 1996. More than 70 different scents are available, ranging from amber to verbena and nearly every color of the rainbow. The shelves also stock sweet-smelling souvenirs like body wash, knit towels, and perfumes, along with gift sets for men, women, and kids.

Textile lovers will be in heaven during a visit to this so-called patches market, taking place along the Westerstraat on Monday (9 am to 1 pm). Located adjacent to the Noordermarkt, vendors sell a myriad of colorful fabrics, from embroidered Asian silks to Indonesian batiks and beautiful prints from Africa and Suriname.

On Saturday (9 am to 5 pm), Noordermarkt's salt-of-the-earth sister, the Lindenmarkt runs down the length of Lindengracht, a street that was formerly a canal. Established in the 1890s, it now has more than 230 food stalls where vendors offer all the basics, including produce, fruit, flowers, cheese, fruit and more.

Now commanding prime real estate far from anything red-lighted, Mail & Female was one of the first businesses in Europe to present women's sex toys in a tasteful manner when they launched more than 20 years ago. If you want to get serious about better sex, they also organize workshops.

Whether you’re shopping for a gift or for a little something for yourself, this eclectic shop stocks a bit of everything: jewelry, clothes, shoes, housewares, and toys. The cheerful staff are always ready to help you find just the right thing.

This Dutch designer's name has become synonymous with undergarments that could turn the Red Light District a shade darker. With her well-constructed lingerie and swimwear, often featuring strap lattices and unusual cutouts, Dekkers has used many a celebrity's body as her canvas, although women—of all ages and exhibitionisms—adore her body fashion.

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 Sunday in summer, with art, books, and other curiosities.

Founded by Oger Lusink in 1989, this store takes "dressed to the nines" to a 10 in its self-proclaimed goal to "bring Latin style" to its clients. In addition to the house fashion collection, which is made in Italy, Oger offers all the top Italian menswear brands. Some also find the handsome shop clerks to be a draw.

This tiny, venerable book market is snuggled in the heart of the University of Amsterdam's meandering edifices. Booksellers in this 17th-century alleyway have been hawking used and antiquarian books, prints, and sheet music daily since 1879.

Named after the Surinamese slang for "shoes," this boutique sells an exclusive selection of sneakers from brands such as adidas, Puma, Nike Air Jordan, and Mephisto, as well as apparel from Patta’s own label. Coveted collaborations on limited editions have given the store a certain swagger in the city’s street-wear scene.

Building on her family business's 70-year heritage, Madeleine Pauw's elegant designs are particularly suited for sophisticated women with a penchant for timeless, well-cut investment pieces. Visit the Pauw Mannen Luxury Tailoring store for men, just a few doors down.

This reputable purveyor of fine antique silver and jewelry has been in business since 1823. A miniature silver windmill with moving sweep makes an elegant souvenir, or treat yourself to an exquisite set of preworn pearl-and-diamond earrings or gold cufflinks.

Spanning 5,920-square-feet, this emporium sells a princely assortment of European antique furniture, bric-a-brac, and chandeliers dating to the early 18th century, as well as unique clock cases, and Dutch hand-painted folk pieces (some even come from royal palaces and warehouses). The shop also includes a renowned work studio, where antique furniture is upholstered and refurbished. Check its website and Instagram for new arrivals.

This popular chocolatier sells handsomely sized bonbons, handmade using only the finest natural ingredients. Flavors range from classic (caramel, cognac, or walnut) to rather unusual (prune, pepper, and tamarind). Don't forget to stock up on cocoa, sprinkles, and other chocolate delights, too. Its other location is at  Staalstraat 17.

This Sunday market (mid-March to late October) on the Rembrandtplein is a good opportunity to find paintings, lithographs, textiles, and other objets d'art by a collective of local artists.