“Nine Streets” is the favorite shopping spot for many who have been to the place. A unique selection of stores combined with a pictorial location which straddle many of the important areas in Amsterdam, is what makes this place tick. Cozy cafes, designer boutiques and vintage stores await your arrival.
While the Nine Streets might seem to be a very huge undertaking and the Kalverstraat a bit more than crazy, Utrechtsestraat is the place you should be in if you love trendy shopping. You can spend several hours browsing the stores and boutiques of this long canal-crossing street. What’s better is that the street is loaded with lots of good places to eat.
A kilometer full of nothing but shops on both sides and people on the roads. If you want to get a feel of what the Amsterdam vibe is all about, this is the place to be in. This pedestrian area is close to the Central Station. Shopping in this area gifts you the added advantage of some sightseeing as well mainly because this road leads to the Dam square around which you can find the Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds and Nieuwe Kerk.
Kalverstraat stretches out to the other side of the square. Look out for any brand name and you can find it here. Spui, is one area you can look forward to as a respite from shopping in this area. You can also think of enjoying a quiet drink in the very many cafes, restaurants and bars in Spui.
You can find bulbs ready for export; all kinds of tulips, narcissus and other flowers in the Flower market on the Muntplein located towards the end of the Kalverstraat.
Bookshops:
Amsterdam is the favorite city of many book lovers. There are a lot of bookshops, most of them unique. Head to Spuilein - the hub of bookshops in the city. You can also find quite a lot of bookshops centered on the area of Leliegracht.
Antique Shops:
If you love antique shops, then the streets of Spiegelgracht and Nieuwe Spiegelstaraat will delight you. There are almost a hundred antique shops and galleries in this small street. A walk through the street will be worth the trouble even if you are not a collector as any visitor can discover more than a dozen beautiful objects which have a wonderful past weaving around them.
Malls and Department stores:
Amsterdam malls and department stores are a hub of world-class brands and products.
Quick picks here include:
•De Bijenkorf (The Bee Hive). Located at the Dam square.
•Magna Plaza (on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, again near the Dam square).
An Amsterdam city break visitor can spot Spiegelkwartier right across Amsterdam’s palatial Rijksmuseum. This historical neighbourhood is best for antiquing. A long string of beautiful antique shops are arranged one after another here. In short, the Spiegelkwartier is the heart of the Dutch antiques and art trade.