Amsterdam is a shopping paradise for visitors looking to buy clothing, (vintage)jewelry, high-end fashion, books, and locally-made goods. From busy markets to high-end shopping streets, Amsterdam offers a range of shopping options to suit every taste and budget. Here in this article, we will be telling you some of the best and most popular shopping streets in Amsterdam.
One of the main reasons to come shopping in Amsterdam is the city’s mix of stores. With all the different types of (local) shops, it will give you the opportunity to find unique and one-of-a-kind items that you won’t find anywhere else. Amsterdam is also home to many Dutch brands, such as Daily Paper, G-Star Raw and Scotch & Soda.
But shopping in Amsterdam isn’t just about the stores – it’s also about the atmosphere. The city is known for its charming canals, historic architecture, and vibrant street life, creating a lively and dynamic backdrop for your shopping adventure. Whether you’re strolling along the beautiful area “De 9 Straatjes” (The Nine Streets) or browsing the market stalls at the Albert Cuyp Market, you’ll be immersed in the vibrant energy of the city.
Table of Contents
9 Recommended places for shopping in Amsterdam
1. Kalverstraat:
Kalverstraat is one of Amsterdam’s most famous shopping streets, known for its mix of high-street chains and independent shops. Here, you’ll find about 165 popular stores like H&M, Zara, and Foot Locker. It’s a bustling street with a lively atmosphere, making it a great place for shopping and people-watching.
The Kalverstraat starts at Dam Square and ends at “Muntplein”, where the flowermarket (“Bloemenmarkt”) is located. Together with the next shopping street “Nieuwendijk”, you will find most of the shops here.
Kalverstraat Amsterdam | Most shops open at 10 AM or 11 AM (Mon-sun) and close at 8 PM. Check the website of the shops for actual opening hours.
2. Nieuwendijk:
Nieuwendijk is a popular shopping street located in the heart of Amsterdam. It’s a pedestrianized street that runs between the Dam Square and the Central Station, making it easily accessible for visitors to the city.
If you are walking in the Nieuwendijk street, you probably will see HEMA. HEMA is a well-known Dutch chain store. They sell everything ranging from baby clothing, stationary to pastries. If you are at the HEMA, try their smoked sausage “Rookworst” and “Tomouce” (a very famous and nice pink pastry) at their restaurant.
Nieuwendijk | Opening hours differ per shop |
People also read: “Van Stapele Koekmakerij”: The Tiktok famous cookie bakery in Amsterdam that everyone is talking about
3. De 9 Straatjes (The Nine Streets):
Located in the heart of Amsterdam’s canal district, De 9 Straatjes is a charming shopping district made up of nine (3×3) narrow streets and 4 canals lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. Here, you’ll find everything from vintage clothing to handmade jewelry to locally-made ceramics.
It’s a great place to walk, shop, and take in the historic architecture of Amsterdam. Ahh there are also many cute cafés where you can get good coffee and cakes in this area too!
De 9 straatjes | Opening hours differ per shop |
4. Albert Cuyp Market:
The Albert Cuyp Market is one of Amsterdam’s largest outdoor markets, with over 260 vendors selling everything from fresh produce to clothing to souvenirs.
It’s a great place to buy walk around, buy some new things and sample some local street food, like stroopwafels and fresh “Kibbling” and herring. The market is open daily, except for Sundays.
Albert Cuypt Markt | Albert Cuypstraat, 1073 BD Amsterdam | 9 AM – 5 PM
5. Haarlemmerstraat & Haarlemmerdijk:
Haarlemmerstraat is a lively shopping street located near Amsterdam Centraal Station. from the station, it is a 5 minutes walk to get there. Haarlemmerstraat is home to a mix of independent local shops, vintage stores, and trendy boutiques, offering a very nice shopping experience in Amsterdam. Here, you’ll find everything from handmade clothing to vinyl records to chocolate. In the Haarlemmerstraat you can also see many restuaurants, bakery, cafés and: this Italian icecream shop called “Chocolaterie icecreamshop Jordino“! Their “Malaga” flavour icecream is a must try! The Haarlemmerdijk is also located in the same area and is a street in the extension of the Haarlemmerstraat.
People also read: 20x Highly Recommended Things To Do in Amsterdam for First Time Visitors
Haarlemmerstraat | Opening hours differ per shop |
6. PC Hooftstraat:
For luxury shopping, head to PC Hooftstraat, Amsterdam’s most exclusive shopping street. Here, you’ll find high-end brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, as well as Dutch designers like Viktor & Rolf and Iris van Herpen. It’s a great place to splurge on a special souvenir or a designer outfit.
Pieter Cornelisz. Hooftstraat | Opening hours differ per shop |
7. De Bijenkorf
The Bijenkorf is a department store chain located throughout the Netherlands, with its flagship store situated in the heart of Amsterdam. This iconic store, which means “beehive” in Dutch, has been a fixture of Amsterdam’s retail scene for over 150 years, and is known for its exceptional quality and good customer service.
The Bijenkorf’s Amsterdam location is a stunning building, with an ornate, neo-Renaissance facade that was designed by Dutch architect Jacques van Straaten in the late 19th century. The interior is equally impressive, with six floors of luxury goods, ranging from designer clothing and accessories to high-end beauty products and home decor.
The Bijenkorf is home to many well-known luxury brands, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, as well as a variety of exclusive products that can only be found in their stores.
The store’s commitment to exceptional service is evident in their personal shopping service, which provides customers with a dedicated stylist to help them find the perfect outfit.
De Bijenkorf | Dam 1, 1012 JS Amsterdam | Mon (11 AM–6 PM), Tue-Sun (10 AM – 6PM)
8. Waterlooplein Market:
The Waterlooplein Market is Amsterdam’s oldest and largest flea market in Amsterdam, offering a wide range of vintage clothing, antiques, and collectibles. The Waterlooplein was market is located in the city center, near the Jewish Quarter, and is open daily except for Sundays. It’s a great place to find unique souvenirs and special objects that you won’t find elsewhere.
The Waterlooplein market is named after the Battle of Waterloo, which took place in 1815, and was named after the square where the market is located. There are more than 300 market stalls at the Waterlooplein and when you are done with shopping, you can get some street food at one of the foodtrucks at the market.
The Rembrandt house is located just around the corner from the Waterlooplein market (about 2 minutes walk), so after visiting the market you can also visit the famous Rembrandt house where the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn lived and collected art.
Waterlooplein Markt | Waterlooplein 2, 1011 NZ Amsterdam | Open from Mon-Sat 9:30-17:30.
9. Magna Plaza
Not a lot of people know the existence of this shopping center, a pity because Magna Plaza is actually a very beautiful shopping center! Magna Plaza is a magnificent and historic shopping center located just behind the Dam square in Amsterdam. This impressive building was originally built in 1895 as a post office, but has been transformed into a beautiful shopping center in recent years.
The exterior of Magna Plaza boasts a stunning neo-Gothic and pre-Renaissance style, featuring many details and ornate decorations that make it stand out in the busy streets of Amsterdam. Inside, the shopping center is just as impressive, with a spacious and elegant atrium that rises up several floors and is filled with natural light.
The shops located within Magna Plaza offer a wide range of products, from higher-end luxury brands to more known brands as Mango. Whether you’re looking to shop for the latest fashion trends or just want to see the beauty of this Dutch national building from the inside, Magna Plaza is a must-go destination when looking for a place to shop in Amsterdam.
Magna Plaza | Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182I, 1012 SJ Amsterdam | Open 7 days a week 10am – 9pm
Amsterdam Travel Guide: Best money saving & travel tips for Amsterdam
Every year, Amsterdam is visited by millions and millions of visitors around the world. Without booking your trip in advance, it will be very hard to find the best place to stay in Amsterdam or do the things you want to do.
————————-
Find your Flight
Since airfare costs will be a significant part of your trip expenses, we recommend you to use Skyscanner as it gives you a list with the cheapest flights. You may also want to check out the website of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. KLM is the main airline of the Netherlands and has besides convenient connections (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport), also competitive prizing and good In-flight experience (e.g. extra legroom; we Dutch are tall, that’s why).
————————-
Find your Train Ticket
Amsterdam is well-connected with other European cities. Use NS International to purchase your train ticket to the Netherlands. NS is the main train operator in the Netherlands. Planning to see more than Amsterdam during your stay in Europe? You may want to consider buying an Eurail Interrail Pass which gives you unlimited train travel across Europe for a specific period.
————————-
Book your Accommodation
The best platform to book a hotel room in Amsterdam is Booking.com as nearly every big and small hotel are listed on this platform, making it very easy to find your preferred hotel. All the costs are listed on the site so you won’t need to pay any unexpected costs such as tourist taxes at arrival.
Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program offers attractive discounts, meaning that you will pay less for your accommodation.
HostelWorld is your to-go platform to book a bed in a hostel. Every hostel in Amsterdam can be found on HostelWorld, making it easy to compare prices and availability.
————————-
Buy your museum and attractions tickets in advance!
Amsterdam is a very very popular tourist attractions and if you want to visit certain attraction it is nearly a MUST to reserve and purchase your tickets online. Otherwise you won’t be able to get in. Especially if you want to visit the Anne Frank House, in high seasons the tickets are already sold out 1.5 months in advance (not a joke).
GetyourGuide is the best platform to buy your tickets online, as they offer free cancellation with full refund. Purchase your tickets first is the smartest thing what you can do before coming to Amsterdam.
————————-