Amsterdam's Best Shopping

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The Bloemenmarkt, or Flower Market, is one of Amsterdam's most famous attractions. In the summer, the market is full of bouquets of the country's tulips, but beautiful flower arrangements of other varieties can be found year-long. It is here that you can also buy bulbs for all sorts of varieties of unique tulips, including certified bulbs that can be exported. But aside from flowers, the flower market is lined with souvenir shops containing every typical souvenir from Holland you can imagine.

Our Local Expert Says:

Quirkiest Market

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This square is host to the Stopera (City Hall and Opera) and the outdoor market best known to tourists, which runs every day except Sunday.  Antiques, clothes and souveniers are just some of the things you'll find here - and the variety of vendors and items change daily.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best Market

Description:

While the Netherland's largest outdoor market (rumored to be the largest outdoor daily market in Europe) is an important tourist attraction, it is still predominately a Dutch experience. Locals mob this street daily, sifting through cheap clothing, fresh foods, toiletries, and electronics while traditional herring and cheese vendors loudly advertise their wares in Amsterdam's native tongue. Here, visitors to the city can immerse themselves in the authentic Amsterdam experience while buying souvenirs at half the price of those found in the tourist shops of the City Centre. The market is located in the famous de Pijp neighborhood, Amsterdam's Quartier Latin. While many visitors may want to combine a stop at this market with a visit to the nearby Heineken Experience, the savvy traveler won't want to forget the bustling and diverse dining and nightlife scene found here as well.

The Albert Cuypmarkt is named after the street on which it is located which is, in turn, named after a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Amsterdam's longest-running market was first officially organized in 1904 as a Saturday evening event. Now it runs Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and hosts over 300 stalls.

Description:

Magna Plaza isn't actually a department store, but a mall, located amid the extravagant neo-Gothic architecture of the former central Post Office, which dates from 1908. The Plaza's four elegant, column-lined floors are decked with around 50 specialist stores of all kinds. Yet it's small enough to function almost like a department store does.

Description:

Kalverstraat is a tourist site in itself. You can't imagine all of the stores lining this single street. This is certainly the destination for those looking for the usual main street fare with shops like Tie Rack and Sacha. The Kalvertoren, a covered mall located on Kalverstraat—close to the Munt—is also brimming with general commercial shops, as well as delightful little coffee shops and great places to grab a quick, rejuvenating lunch. For a truly outstanding bite to eat, hop over to Vroom and Dreesman. The store itself offers nothing remarkably unique, but the restaurant is worth the visit alone. From the Dutch chain HEMA to the enigmatically named Ron's Exclusive, these streets offer a little something for every wallet.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best Shopping District

Description:

Many visitors to Amsterdam who truly enjoy shopping find the Kalverstraat and the tourist shops, but often miss Amsterdam's favorite place to shop: the nine little streets. Tucked into the canal belt just below the Anne Frank House, these blocks offer fun and authentic shopping, Amsterdam style. Whether you are looking for a shop offering second hand clothes and incense or selling designer bags and china, you will find it all among the shops in this district. Complete with a selection of cafes, restaurants and bar, this central shopping district is an often-missed Amsterdam gem.