4 Best Shopping in Oud-Zuid, Amsterdam

Most department stores and toy shops in the Netherlands carry this iconic Dutch children's brand, which you may know as Miffy, but here, at one of only two shops in the country, you'll find every imaginable Nijntje product—clothes, books, toys, night-lights, toothbrushes, and more.

With more than 400 cheeses, all aged in the shop’s very own cheese cave, this is easily one of the best cheese shops in the Netherlands—and, some say, in all of Europe. There’s also an interesting selection of oils from Provence-based Château d’Estoublon, as well as charcuterie and crackers. Stock up on bread next door at the excellent French bakery Le Fournil de Sébastien and then head to nearby Beatrixpark for a picnic.

Chocoholics, take note: this Oud-Zuid institution not only sells handmade bonbons in sophisticated flavors like Earl Grey, cranberry-caramel, and black sesame–lychee, but will also custom-design just about anything you can imagine in chocolate. Several options are available for those with lactose, gluten, or cacao allergies. There is also a new shop on Molsteeg 11, offering ArtiChoc's most famous in-house specialty, Hemelse Stenen or ''Heavenly Stones," meltingly soft chocolate squares with nuts.

Women inspired by the betwixt-beach-and-bar look of Ibiza should sashay their suede ankle boots here for brands such as Isabel Marant Étoile, Paul & Joe, Antik Batik, Ganni, Masscob, and Joseph.