Main commercial areas of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is without a doubt the commercial capital of the Netherlands. In addition to the diverse mix of fashion, antique, modern, upscale, cheap, second-hand, lavish and everything in between, what makes shopping in Amsterdam so fun is the different personalities that emerge from each of the major commercial districts of the city.

We’ve outlined our top shopping areas in Amsterdam, but keep in mind: these don’t even include the many open-air markets that deserve a category of their own. Whether you’re window shopping or wanting to lose cash, you’ll come across a wide range of options with these selections.

De Negen Straatjes (‘The Nine Little Streets’)

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Best for: a quaint and exclusive shopping experience in Amsterdam
The quaint “Nine Streets” area is by far our favorite shopping spot in Amsterdam, not just because of its quaint location; straddle the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht on Amsterdam’s Central Canal Ring, but for their original and diverse selection of shops. You’ll never tire of wandering the handmade brick walkways, dotted with designer boutiques, cozy cafes, vintage shops, and specialty shops. Look for “De 9 Straatjes” on the street signs and pick up a shopping map of the district from any of the charming retailers.

Utrechtsestraat

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Best for: Fashion shopping in the East Canal Belt
What seems like a smaller company than the Nine Streets or the crazy Kalverstraat (see below), this long street that crosses the canal has enough specialty shops and boutiques to keep you browsing for several hours. We especially like Leuk for quality basics and fun dresses, and gorgeous home stores like Kom, which sell specialty linens, dinnerware, and bathroom accessories. The street and its side alleys are also filled with fantastic places to eat, from gourmet delis and casual cafes to the best restaurants and tapas bars.

Pieter Cornelisz (PC) Hooftstraat

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Ideal for: window shopping and tag hunting in
Amsterdam’s Mini Fifth Avenue, located in the Museum Quarter, is home to high-end classics (Chanel, Gucci, Hermés, Louis Vuitton), jewelry (Chopard, Cartier) and lifestyle shops, as well as various boutiques that sell more luxury labels. Azzurro at 142 is the city’s only Christian Louboutin shoe retailer. More moderate shoppers can find reasonable prices at stores like Mexx and Claudia Strater.

More streets in Oud Zuid (‘Old South’)

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Best for: A sophisticated afternoon of shopping with wealthy locals.
Those who venture beyond the PC Hooftstraat while in the Oud Zuid (“Old South”) neighborhood are rewarded with stylish clothing, accessories and gift shops in one of Amsterdam’s prettiest residential areas. Van Baerlestraat features fancy names like Pauw and Vanila. Beethovenstraat, along with the eastern border of this neighborhood, features a row of elegant shops for women, men and children. Don’t miss Cornelis Schuytstraat and its fashion boutiques and home shops for a special Dutch outfit or gift.

The Jordan

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+31 20 627 5863

Ideal for: discovering hidden treasures in an area of Amsterdam.
It’s fun to spend an afternoon lost in the maze of little streets in the heart of the bohemian yuppie Jordaan, where you will find thrift shops, artist studios, small boutiques and galleries. Head to the busy Haarlemmerstraat to find more clothing stores and plenty of places to eat after a hard day of shopping.

Spiegelkwartier

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Ideal for: Antiques, exploring local artists
On the beautiful little canal (Spiegelgracht) and narrow brick street (Nieuwe Spiegelstraat), just north of the Rijksmuseum, you will find one after another of beautiful antique shops with art, furniture, Delftware, prints, books – the list goes on. and continues. The many art galleries at the intersection of Kerkstraat are also part of this area of antiques and art, known as the ‘Spiegelkwartier’.

Dam Square area

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Ideal for: shopping on rainy days
Although not my favorite place to spend the day (too touristy for me), the area around Dam Square offers a great deal of shopping. My favorite is De Bijenkorf, a popular Dutch department store comparable to American Bloomingdale’s. The many main stores in the nearby Magna Plaza shopping center (behind the Royal Palace) are open seven days a week until 7 p.m. M. (Until 9 p.m. Thursdays). I stay away from all the tacky souvenir shops in Damrak.

Leidsestraat

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Shopping in the shops on the way to the Museum Quarter Busy Leidsestraat features swanky clothing stores like the UK-based Karen Millen, along with cheap souvenir traps, late-night shops and fast food outlets. There are also many shoe stores (Camper is a favorite) and a Hugo Boss store in the monumental building that once housed the Metz & Co. department store.

Kalverstraat

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Best for: experience of
«Shop till you drop» This pedestrianized street and its adjacent alleys and the «Kalvertoren» shopping center feature a mix of chain clothing stores (Esprit, H&M, Mexx, WE, Zara), dozens of shoe stores, Dutch stores such as HEMA and a fancy and expensive department store, Maison de Bonneterie. If you can tolerate the ever-present crowds, chances are you’ll walk off this street with a new purchase in hand.

KNSM Island

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Ideal for: designer shopping
modern If you are looking for all the modern you are looking for, head to KNSM Island, located in the eastern port of Amsterdam. Tram line 10 will take you to this young neighborhood of old warehouses, where you will find innovative and modern design and home stores, such as Pilat & Pilat and Pol’s Potten.

Edited by Kristen de Joseph.