119 Best Places to Shop in Netherlands

Tucked away from the crowds is Emma, a tiny, very feminine store complete with whitewashed walls and a wooden floor. The owner specializes in silver plate and costume jewelry, much imported from Paris and Berlin. She also stocks a small range of fabulous chandeliers—sometimes in unusual colors, like purple.

This shop started out in 1935 as a specialist in English hats and caps. Later, they added pullovers, tweed jackets, tartan scarves, and many other trappings of the English gentleman to their inventory. The cozy shop may be small, but there's plenty to choose from—and they still sell hats, too. There are also locations in Oud-Zuid, Nieuwmarktbuurt, and Amstelveen.

It's Grandma's attic meets the Salvation Army at this stylist’s playground that originally opened on Waterlooplein and now has branches throughout Amsterdam and the Netherlands as well as in Brussels, Copenhagen, Antwerp, Paris, and Hamburg.

The most central traditional street market in the city is an organic farmers' market that is generally held on Lange Voorhout on Wednesday 8–6.

For handmade men's shirts, visit the diplomats' favorite supplier, FG van den Heuvel, in business since 1882.

Founded in 2009 by the (then) student Guillaume Philibert, who wanted to challenge the status quo and design a premium sneaker at a fair price point, this Amsterdam-based label's now-famous Low Top has successfully bridged the gap between street wear and fashion, winning international acclaim along the way. Visit the flagship store to peruse the entire collection of innovative footwear as well as ready-to-wear luxury streetwear, bags, accessories, and eyewear for men and women.

For superb Chinese porcelain, Venetian glass, and Dutch tiles—all fired before 1900—visit this family-run shop in the Spiegelkwartier. Kitty Laméris has been the "glass and tile expert" on the Dutch version of Antiques Roadshow since 2006, so you know you're in good hands here.

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.

From late April until mid September on Thursday and Sunday, an antiques market takes over Lange Voorhout. Wandering through the stalls on a fine day, perhaps to the accompaniment of a street musician, makes for a lovely experience. An alfresco café supplies that all-important coffee and apple cake.

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.

MAMA encourages the collaboration of emerging experimental artists. If you're looking for new, exciting, and innovative art with high standards, you'll find it here. Some of the work may shock; some might make you laugh out loud in delight; but all of it is art critic–worthy. Consider film- and video-based art by the Dutch Galleon of Mayhem or inflatable sculptures by a group of "artoonists," including a giant rabbit by Florentijn Hofman. The gallery is open Wednesday–Sunday 1–6.

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.