Canals – Local tips (shopping)

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam? Perhaps windmills, coffee shops or its famous Red Light District.

Well, Amsterdam is also home to one of the most renowned flower markets in the Netherlands and the only floating flower market in the world – Bloemenmarkt. This is a major tourist attraction in the city which is located on the Singel canal between the Koningsplein and the Muntplein. It is an array of colours and smells, and is best visited if you are out for an early morning walk as there are less tourists.  Bloemenmarkt market is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. except on Sunday when it opens from 11 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.

Like lots of people I have to admit I’ve gotten so used to downloading music that I hardly ever buy a CD. But step one foot inside this shop and you will instantly feel the urge to listen to and buy lots of CD’s. It’s really kind of dangerous!

The shop actually consists of five shops stuck together. There are different areas specializes in pop music, classical music, jazz, world music, rock music, dance music. And they also have a DVD section. Once you get inside you can easily spend hours rummaging around the special offers, special editions, and CD’s of artists you forgot existed.

In the DVD section they’ve got complete selections of all the great TV series you can imagine. When I walk around there I always start getting greedy and I really don’t know where to start!

The shop has lots of different little corners where you can withdraw yourself from everything else and just listen to music. The people in the shop all know a lot about all the different sorts of music so they can always help you further when you don’t know how to make a choice between everything they’ve got to offer.

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Concerto | Music, Shopping
Utrechtsestraat 52 – 60 | Canals | +31206235228
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Thu 10:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

I can’t repeat enough how much I like cheese. This is why visiting De Kaaskamer is a treat for me. Looking at (and smelling) all the different sorts of cheese makes my mouth water…

I usually go here to get a delicious baguette for lunch. You can pick any sort of cheese or meat and other toppings and the baguette will definitely fill your stomach for the rest of the day.

The shop is hard to miss, you can smell it meters away. When you go inside you won’t know where to start! Luckily the personel is really friendly and they let you taste different cheeses too.

My tip would be to get yourself a baguette, and to eat it somewhere beside one of the beautiful canals. Then on your last day in Amsterdam head to the shop again and fill your whole suitcase with CHEESE!!! Enjoy!

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De Kaaskamer | Shopping, Snacks | Baguette € 5.00
Runstraat 7 | Canals | +310206233483
Mon 12:00 – 18:00, Tue – Fri 09:00 – 18:00, Sat 09:00 – 17:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

The words ‘typically Amsterdam’, ‘funny fashion’ and ‘Exota’ can easily be mentioned in the same sentence.

Their own vintage label ‘King Louie‘ is sold internationally and a great success. You’ll find people wearing this label all over the Netherlands as it’s really recognizable. With the first store opened in 1985 the concept of ‘first class second hand’ was presented.

Brands as for example Carhartt, Kookai, French Connection are part of the collection. Accessories like key gadgets, necklaces, body cremes, belts and bags decorate the place with their happy colors and designs.

Service is extremely friendly, fashionable and happy to help with any request or advice.

A visit to this shop puts a smile on your face!

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Exota | Shopping | T-shirts from € 20.00
Hartenstraat 10 | Canals | +31206209102
Mon 11:00-18:00, Tue – Wed & Fri – Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Thu 10:00 – 21:00, Sun 13:00 – 17:00

This is a nice little shop, with beautiful, original and refreshing bijouterie and innovative gadgets, small stuff and other things.

They also have beautiful linen bedsheets, wool pleads and special lamps. A feast to wander around, however they have very little stock.

They currently have a great new collection of lamps and spotlights.

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Outras Coisas | Shopping
Herenstraat 31 | Canals | +31206257281
Mon 12:00 – 8:30, Tue – Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 17:30

Sir Max has expanded – twice as big and three times more choice. I love it!

A jewel in shoes-land! It’s located in the 9 streets (check the 9 streets article).

This is the the ultimate for shoe fetisjhists. Brands of hand made shoes like Crockett & Jones, Santoni, Alden, Saint Crispin’s and Edward Green are here to be bought by willing customers.

Not cheap off course, so really for the freaks, dandies and lovers of good shoes!

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Sir Max | Shopping
Hartenstraat 2 | Canals | +31207076588
Mon 13:00 – 18:30, Tue – Wed & Fri – Sat 10:00 – 18:30, Thu 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Not the place for everybody, but a place for every Burgundian! What a selection of meat (Waguy), cold cuts, pâtés (home made), salads and sausages of all kind… They have professional and very friendly staff helps to make your choice(s). All the goodies and nice food is beautiful displayed, and brings the water in your mouth.

My choice is the Iberian pork and truffle sausages and the French Limoges Côte du Boeuf. This shop is a beauty for the eye and tongue.

They have the French and Italian fresh truffles, some as big as a tennis ball. Worth the detour.

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Slagerij Fred de Leeuw | Shopping | From € 10.00
Utrechtsestraat 92 | Canals | +31206230235
Tue – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat 08:00 – 17:00

If you want to go shopping you should pay a visit to Spoiled. You will definitely be spoilt for choice. I love shopping in the 9 streets and this shop is one of my favourites. I can’t say I always buy something (since it can be quite expensive) but I do definitely always see things I really want to buy. Sometimes I spoil myself and other times I just wait until the sale when lots of the clothes are very reasonably priced.

They have a really good collection of clothes for men, women and even children (very trendy little children). Lots of different known and less known designer brands will make it difficult for you to choose.

But the people who work in the shop know a lot about what they are selling so they will be a good help. especially if you are looking for a pair of jeans you’re in the right place here. They really specialize in jeans and have lots of different types. In the back of the shop you will find the ‘Denim Bar’ where you can sit down and choose your perfect pair of jeans (instead of for instance a cocktail!) I know it can be quite frustrating to find the perfect pair of jeans but I can almost guarantee you that you will succeed here.

Besides clothes you will also find Shoes bags and accessories. And you can even get a nice haircut since there is also a hairdresser available in the shop.

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Spoiled | Shopping
Wolvenstraat 19 | Canals | +310206263818
Tue – Wed & Fri – Sat 10:00 – 18:00 , Sun & Mon 12:00 – 18:00, Thu 10:00 – 19:00

Between the canals bordering the Jordaan, you find an area with shops, restaurants, lunch bars and pubs called “Negen Straatjes”, which translates into Nine Streets. These nine streets are: Reestraat, Berenstraat, Runstraat, Hartenstraat, Wolvenstraat, Huidenstraat, Gasthuismolensteeg, Oude Spiegelstraat and Wijde Heisteeg. They are all located in between the Singel and the Prinsengracht, running in a ninety degrees angle to the canals.

This little neighborhood is wellknown, nevertheless it is never really crowded. You have to be on guard for delivery trucks in the narrow streets, but you can walk from store to store in peace.

The little shops are very specialized and they sell the weirdest stuff. If you take your time, you just might find something beautiful.

When I am walking around here, looking at the little businesses, I get the feeling that they are run by people that have quit a boring job to focus on their passion. There might be a big turnover in shops that are so particular, but these streets are so widely known that a lot of them seem to be able to survive.

If you are tired of all the shops you will be sure to find a nice café or lunch bar where you can a coffee or a proper meal.

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The 9 streets | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
9 straatjes | Canals
Daily

The Utrechtstestraat starts at the Rembrandtplein and ends at the Frederiksplein. The street crosses all the canals and this is what makes it a very charming shopping street. You mustn’t forget to look up every once in a while or else you will miss the sight of the lovely houses above the shops.

Almost anything you can imagine you will find in this street. I especially love it for clothes shopping. The variety of clothes shops is overwhelming, you will find affordable as well as expensive shops and everything in between. There is a great variety of clothes, bags, shoes, music, books, and different delicatessen shops (check out the other Utrechtsestraat spots on this website.

Also if you are looking to get someone a present, this is the place to be.
Besides shopping the street is also full of bars and restaurants, again you will find a variety of cuisines suitable for any budget.

You should really have a look here if you like to go shopping but don’t like busy shopping streets full of shops you see everywhere, the choice of shops here is really different and I think you could easily spend a whole day here if you count in stops for coffee, lunch, a afternoon drink and dinner to finish it of!

The only thing that might me inconvenient is the fact that the street is very busy. On both sides are shops and in the middle is a very busy road. If you want to see all the shops you will be crossing over a lot so watch out for lots of cars and trams.

And as always in Amsterdam beware of irritated aggressive Amsterdam people on bikes! Keep this in mind and you will love this street.

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Utrechtsestraat | Shopping
Utrechtsestraat | Canals
Mon – Wed & Fri – Sun 10:00 – 18:00, Thu 10:00 – 21:00

Zipper sells secondhand and vintage clothing. Imagine American jeans, Westernshirts, glittery cocktail dresses, leather jackets and sweat pants gathered together in two great shops. Some are very rare so steal the show with your one of a kind item!

Besides this huge collection they also sell customized shirts, fun and funky sunglasses, and shoes from old sneakers and boots to vintage pumps. Think of 50, 60, 70, 80 years style.

Between all racks the store is packed with accessories like for example belts, scarf’s, buttons and hats.  Check the website to see what’s new in the store..or what will be coming soon. Be the first to get it!

The shop also sells tickets for cool parties, just ask them what’s on!

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Zipper | Shopping | Shoes from € 30.00
Huidenstraat 7 | Canals | +31206237302
Mon 13:00 – 18:00, Tue – Sat 11:00 – 18:00, Sun 13:00 – 17:00