62 Best Places to Shop in Amsterdam, Netherlands

American Book Center

Centrum Fodor's choice

What began in the early '70s as an erotic magazine outlet has grown into reputedly the largest brick-and-mortar English-language book emporium on the continent. True to its name, the shop is American-owned, but the selection is broad and eclectic, running the gamut from crime fiction to New Age and Manga. Students, teachers, and senior citizens (on Monday only) receive a 10% discount with a valid ID.

Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum

Centrum Fodor's choice

For the city's best selection of international newspapers, creative magazines, and highbrow periodicals, as well as the freshest local offerings, find your way to the unmissable red-and-white awning on the Spui.

Candy Freaks

Nieuwmarkt Fodor's choice
Whatever your dietary restrictions—from sugar- or gluten-free to organic, vegan, and halal—you will find something to hit your sweet spot here. There is plenty of regular candy, and the service is a treat, too.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Coster Diamonds

Museum District Fodor's choice
Even if you're not in the market for a new rock, the free, guided tour of (reportedly) the world's oldest diamond-polishing factory is certainly worthwhile. You'll learn all about the industry's "four Cs"—carat, color, clarity, and cut—and get to watch highly skilled diamond cutters plying their trade. There's also a replica of Coster's most famous cut: the Koh-I-Noor diamond, one of the prized gems of the British crown jewels.
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De Pindakaaswinkel

Oosterdok Fodor's choice
Peanut-butter lovers have found a new place of pilgrimage in De Plantagebuurt’s popular indie shopping street. The artisan creations here are made with freshly ground peanuts, organic coconut oil, and pure, natural ingredients. There are a dozen variations, including lemongrass-chili, date-cinnamon, and caramel–sea salt.

De Winkel van Nijntje

Oud-Zuid Fodor's choice

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.

Duikelman Kookgereedschap

De Pijp Fodor's choice

Hands-down the best kitchenware store in Amsterdam. The city’s chefs and home cooks crowd into this family-run business for excellent advice on everything from oyster knives to stand mixers to espresso machines. Tulip-shaped cookie cutters and wooden speculaas molds are nifty (and useful) souvenirs. There are also dedicated Duikelman stores nearby for professional ovens and refrigerators, and cookbooks, porcelain, and tea towels.

Erik’s Delicatessen

Amsterdam-Oost Fodor's choice
This trusted gourmet food shop has more than 100 foreign cheeses and a large selection of local varieties, including various boerenkazen (artisanal raw milk farmhouse cheeses) and a few own-brand labels. There's also a well-chosen assortment of charcuterie, artisan bread, and more than 150 wines, with an emphasis on organic, biodynamic, and French bottles. It's a perfect stop for picnic essentials before heading to the stunningly redesigned Oosterpark nearby.

L’Amuse

Oud-Zuid Fodor's choice

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.

Marqt

Oud-West Fodor's choice

With an emphasis on "real food"—local, seasonal, and sometimes organic—and transparent production practices, this sustainable supermarket offers everything from fresh fish, meats, and cheeses to baked goods, organic wines, and even TV dinners. Note that Marqt takes credit and debit cards only and has multuple locations around the city, including nearby in the Oud-West along Bijderdijkstraat.

Metropolitan

Red Light District Fodor's choice
Owned by the pioneering Dutch chocolatier Kees Raat, this is the place to satisfy all your late-night sweet cravings. Raat’s bean-to-bar chocolate is made from superior-quality cocoa beans from small-scale plantations in the Dominican Republic. His bonbons come in flavors such as ras el hanout (a Moroccan spice blend), blood orange, and chipotle, and his hot chocolate is some of the city’s best. There’s also heavenly homemade ice cream in flavors like matcha and lemon cake, plus gin-and-tonic sorbet.

Nieuwmarkt Organic Farmers' Market

Nieuwmarkt Fodor's choice
On Nieuwmarkt square, next to the 15th-century former city gate known as De Waag, you'll find a charming farmers’ market on Saturday, where you can stock up on organic cheese, bread, meat, fruit, and vegetables. There's also a flea market on Sundays in summer, with art, books, and other curiosities.
Between Geldersekade and Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 CR, Netherlands

Noordermarkt Farmers' and Flea Market

Jordaan Fodor's choice
The quiet square around Noorderkerk transforms into a lively marketplace twice a week. Every Saturday (9 to 4), it’s home to an organic boerenmarkt (farmers' market) cherished by local foodies for the impressive selection of fruits and vegetables, local honey, plus plenty of meats and cheese. On Monday mornings (until 1 pm), there's a flea market full of secondhand clothing, books, antiques, and memorabilia.

Sissy-Boy

Oosterdok Fodor's choice

Casual, preppy threads for men, women, and children can be found here, along with home wares, toys, and toiletries. There are other locations in Centrum, Oud-Zuid, and the Eastern Canal Ring.

United Nude

Centrum Fodor's choice

Entering UN feels more like walking into an art gallery than a shoe shop. And it's no wonder: the creative mind behind this brand's flagship store—and the various models of the signature floating-heeled pump contained therein—is Rem D. Koolhaas, nephew of the famous Pritzker Prize–winning architect Rem Koolhaas. In addition to architectural footwear for him and her, there's also a selection of striking watches, backpacks, and sunglasses.

zuiderMRKT

Museum District Fodor's choice

On Saturday, Amsterdam’s finest organic and artisanal food producers descend on a small square behind the Concertgebouw. There's a fishmonger, a granola and muesli specialist, a pancake stall popular with local kids, and, of course, plenty of organic produce from local farms.

Stock up on local cheese from Erik's Delicatessen and dried fennel sausages from Brandt & Levie.

Albert Cuypmarkt

De Pijp

This century-old market on Albert Cuypstraat is the beating heart of De Pijp. It's open Monday–Saturday, rain or shine, and you're likely to hear the vendors barking out their bargains over the sound of a street musician. Stalls sell food, clothing, fabrics, plants, and household goods from all over the world. Be sure to try some Dutch snacks, like freshly made stroopwafels (thin waffle cookies with a layer of caramel sandwiched in between) or patat (french fries served with mayonnaise or satay sauce).

Antiekcentrum Amsterdam

Jordaan

The largest covered art and antiques market in the Netherlands is a cooperative, housing more than 55 dealers and 10,000 objects. You may have to browse through a lot of junk, but you wouldn't be the first to end up with a great buy on an antique doll, a first-edition book, or military memorabilia.

Antiquariaat A. Kok & Zn

Red Light District

This antiquarian's heaven, housed in a former department store, offers five floors of treasures on Amsterdam history. Specialties of this family-run business include books on pre-18th-century art, classical archaeology, architecture, biology, and the Olympic Games, as well as topographical maps and prints. It also offers a fair share of other literature nicely shelved by subject.

Oude Hoogstraat 14-18, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 CE, Netherlands
020-623–1191

ArtiChoc

Oud-Zuid

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.

Koninginneweg 141, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1075 CM, Netherlands
020-470–9805

Baobab

Jordaan

Founded in 1967, this shop is treasure trove of jewelry, fabrics, furniture, and other curiosities—both old and new—from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Boekhandel Robert Premsela

Museum District

Stop by this highly respected specialty shop for art books after visiting the nearby Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum, or Rijksmuseum. The store also has an interesting selection of highbrow literature and nonfiction.

Van Baerlestraat 78, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 BB, Netherlands
020-662–4266

Bonebakker

Museum District

In business since 1792, this is one of the city's oldest and finest jewelers. In fact, founder Adrianus Bonebakker was famously commissioned by King Willem II to design a royal crown. While Bonebakker still manufactures and sells high-end jewelry and diamonds, you'll also find watches and fine jewelry by the likes of Ole Lynggaard, Pasquale Bruni, Boucheron, and Schoeffel.

Buise

Oud-Zuid

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.

Cornelis Schuytstraat 12, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1071 JH, Netherlands
020-670–4904

C & A

Centrum

Established in 1841, this Dutch department store chain offers affordable fashion for the whole family, ranging from 100% organic cotton baby clothes to plus-size skinny jeans and recycled swimwear. There are always sales racks, and if you have the patience to paw through them, you may be rewarded with some discounted gems. The Damrak store is one of five in Amsterdam alone; for other locations, visit the website.

CONCRETE Store

Centrum

Trendy boys and girls flock here for fashionable street wear from labels such as StillaDinnasLäb, Billionaire Boys Club, Rick Owens, and Walter van Beirendonck, as well as the latest sneakers and shoes from adidas, Grenson, and Both. Do check out the work of local and international artists in the adjacent gallery.

Spuistraat 250, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1012 VW, Netherlands
020-625–2225

Dappermarkt

Amsterdam-Oost

Since 1910, this popular market has been a consumer crossroads in Amsterdam-Oost. Running the length of the eponymous street, the market's 250 stalls sell everything from discount clothing and cosmetics to flowers and fabrics. The food offerings are just as diverse and include halal lamb kebabs, Indonesian loempia (egg rolls), and Dutch kibbeling (deep-fried battered cod).

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De Bijenkorf

Centrum
Having celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2020, "The Beehive" is still the nation's best-known department store, where shoppers swarm for top international lines of designer clothing, shoes, and cosmetics, along with a decent array of furniture and appliances, and one of the best stationery selections in town. Recent renovations, including a tax-free lounge and various ground-floor store-within-a-store boutiques, have focused on attracting international shoppers looking for premium brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Givenchy, Tiffany's, and Marc Jacobs.

De Boekenmarkt op het Spui

Centrum

The city has a number of book markets, although its most famous takes place every Friday on leafy Spui Square. Under the little white tents, it's an antiquarian- and used-book browsing paradise.

De Condomerie

Red Light District

A discreet, well-informed staff promote healthful sexual practices at this condom emporium (with an equally handy online store). You'll find a colorful collection of rubbers and novelty condoms as well as allergy-free and made-to-measure options.