TOURIST
INFO
Shopping
in Amsterdam:
Department
Stores
De Bijenkorf
De Bijenkorf is to Amsterdam
what Harrods is to London and Bloomingdale's is to New York. There's a good range
of clothing - both designer and own-label - kidswear, jewellery, cosmetics, shoes,
accessories and a wonderful household goods department. The Chill Out department
on the fifth floor caters to hip young things in search of streetwear, clubwear,
wacky foodstuffs and kitsch accessories, while the store's restaurant, La Ruche,
is a good lunch spot. The Sinterklaas and Christmas displays are extravagant and
hugely popular.
De Bijenkorf Dam 1
Phone: +31 (0)20 621 8080
Tram
1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25. Open 11am-6pm Mon; 9.30am-6pm Tue,
Wed, Fri, Sat; 9.30am-9pm Thur; noon-6pm Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC,
V.
Hema
A slightly (but only very slightly) upmarket version of the American five-and-dime
store. Prices are low, but the quality is amazingly high: good buys include casual
clothes, kids' clothing, swimwear, underwear, household items, stationery and
other accessories. Hema also sells pastries, bread, delicatessen foods and reliable
wines. The four main branches are listed here, but there are six others in town:
call 311 4411 for details.
Kalvertoren, Singel 457/A1
Phone: +31 (0)20
422 8988
Tram 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 20. Open 11am-7pm Mon; 9.30am-7pm Tue, Wed,
Fri; 9.30am-9pm Thur; 9.30am-6pm Sat; noon-6pm Sun. No
Credit Cards: cards.
Branches:
Ferdinand Bolstraat 93A
Phone: +31 (0)20 676 3222
Borgerstraaat 142
Phone: +31 (0)20 683 4511
Nieuwendijk 174-6
Phone:
+31 (0)20 623 4176
Maison
de Bonneterie
At this venerable institution - 'By Appointment to Her
Majesty Queen Beatrix' - you'll find men's and women's clothing of the highest
quality. By and large, things are pretty conservative: the Ralph Lauren boutique
within the store is about as wild as it gets. There's a fine household goods department.
Rokin 140-2
Phone: +31 (0)20 531 3400
Tram 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 14, 20,
24, 25. Open 1-5.30pm Mon; 10am-5.30pm Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9pm Thur; noon-5.30pm
Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Metz
& Co
Reminiscent of Heal's in London, Metz & Co is a good place
to shop for special gifts: designer furniture, glass and Liberty-style fabrics
and scarves are all sold here. The top-floor restaurant is popular for business
lunches and has a terrific view of the city. At holiday time, Metz & Co's
Christmas shop puts even the most Scroogeian customer back into the spirit of
the season.
Leidsestraat 34-6
Phone: +31 (0)20 520 7020
Tram 1, 2,
5, 20. Open 11am-6pm Mon; 9.30am-6pm Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; 9.30am-9pm Thur; noon-5pm
Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Branch:
Schiphol Airport,
Phone: +31 (0)20 653 5060
Vroom
& Dreesmann
V&D equals good quality at reasonable prices. You'll
find an impressive array of toiletries, cosmetics, small leather goods and watches,
clothing and underwear for the whole family, kitchen items, suitcases, CDs and
videotapes. The ground-floor bakery, Le Marché, sells excellent bread,
ready-made quiches and sandwiches, with La Place restaurant offering just about
every other thing you might want to put in your mouth. Prices are a step up from
Hema.
Kalverstraat 203
Phone: +31 (0)20 622 0171
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16,
20, 24, 25. Open 11am-7pm Mon; 10am-7pm Tue, Wed, Fri; 10am-9pm Thur; 10am-6pm
Sat; noon-6pm Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, MC, V.
Supermarkets
That the Netherlands is one of the world's most densely populated countries
is perhaps most apparent on Saturday afternoons at the supermarket. Thankfully,
because Amsterdam is a city that stays up late, Saturday mornings are a different
story and are a good time to get out and get the goods. Otherwise, prepare to
brave the horrendously crowded aisles and long queues at the cash registers.
A few tips: unless a per piece (per stuk) price is given, fruit and vegetables
must be weighed by the customer. Put your produce on the scale, press the picture
of the item, and press the 'BON' button to get the receipt. You must pack your
groceries yourself, and if you want a plastic bag (usually 35¢), you have
to ask for it.
Albert
Heijn
This massive branch of Albert Heijn, aptly named the 'Food Plaza',
is located behind Dam Square. There are over 40 branches of Heijn within Amsterdam
(some of which are listed below), but the extended hours at this branch are an
exception to those of most others. It should contain most everything you need
in terms of household goods, though prices on some ranges are more expensive than
at some of its competitors.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 226
Phone: +31 (0)20
421 8344
Tram 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25. Open 8am-10pm Mon-Sat;
11am-7pm Sun. No
Credit Cards: cards
Branches:
Van Baerlestraat
33A
Phone: +31 (0)20 662 0416
Haarlemmerdijk 1
Phone: +31 (0)20 625
6931
Kinkerstraat 89
Phone: +31 (0)20 618 0088
Koningsplein 4-6,
Phone: +31 (0)20 624 5721
Nieuwmarkt 18
Phone: +31 (0)20 623 2461
Overtoom 454
Phone: +31 (0)20 618 3065
Vijzelstraat 113
Phone:
+31 (0)20 625 9405 Jodenbreestraat 21
Phone: +31 (0)20 624 1249
Westerstraat
79-87
Phone: +31 (0)20 623 6852
Dirk
van den Broek
A perfectly decent, unflashy grocery store. There's less
choice and less luxury than at Albert Heijn, but it's far cheaper.
Marie
Heinekenplein 25
Phone: +31 (0)20 673 9393
Tram 16, 24, 25. Open 8am-9pm
Mon-Fri; 8am-8pm Sat; 1-7pm Sun. No
Credit Cards: cards.
Branches:
Bilderdijkstraat 126
Phone: +31 (0)20 612 2658
2e Nassaustraat 23
Phone: +31 (0)20 686 0132
Wittenburgerstraat 18
Phone: +31 (0)20 620
0070
Hema
Hardly the place for weekly basics - it doesn't sell milk, for one thing - but
everything you need for a picnic, along with a terrific range of cheap snacks.
Kalvertoren, Singel 457/A1
Phone: +31 (0)20 422 8988
Tram 1, 2, 4, 5,
9, 20. Open 11am-7pm Mon; 9.30am-7pm Tue, Wed, Fri; 9.30am-9pm Thur; 9.30am-6pm
Sat; noon-6pm Sun. No
Credit Cards: cards.
Shoes
The
best selections of shoes can be had at shops on Leidsestraat or Kalverstraat,
while the best bargains in second-hand shoes are to be had at Waterlooplein, and
Noordermarkt on Mondays.
Big
Shoe
Fashionable footwear for men and women in large sizes only. Every
women's shoe on display is available in sizes 42-46.
Leliegracht 12
Phone:
+31 (0)20 622 6645
Tram 13, 14, 17, 20. Open 10am-6pm Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9pm
Thur; closed Mon, Tue, Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Free
Lance Shoes
The imaginative façade and decor set Free Lance apart
from other similar retailers. Shoes are created by two French designers in classic
and modern styles.
Rokin 86
Phone: +31 (0)20 420 3205
Tram 4, 9,
14, 16, 20, 24, 25. Open 1-6pm Mon; 10am-6pm Tue, Wed, Fri; 10am-9pm Thur; noon-5pm
Sat, Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Kenneth
Cole
Kenneth Cole stocks its own conservatively styled shoes, plus a
good range of boots from the likes of Timberland and Doc Martens. Stock changes
often, and bargains can be had during the frequent sales.
Leidsestraat 20-2
Phone: +31 (0)20 627 6012
Tram 1, 2, 5. Open noon-6pm Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9pm
Thur; 1-5pm Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, MC, V.
Branch:
Leidsestraat
29-33
Phone: +31 (0)20 422 6060
Seventy
Five
Trainers for folk who don't have sporting in mind: high fashion
styles from Nike, Puma, Converse, Acupuncture, Diesel and many more.
Nieuwe
Hoogstraat 24
Phone: +31 (0)20 626 4611
Tram 4, 9, 14/Metro Nieuwmarkt.
Open noon-6pm Mon; 10am-6pm Tue-Sat; closed Sun.
Credit Cards: MC, V.
Shoe
Baloo
Shoes for men and women that make your mouth water: Gucci, Prada
and more. The friendly staff make parting with your cash that much easier.
Koningsplein 7
Phone: +31 (0)20 626 7993
Tram 1, 2, 5. Open noon-6pm
Mon; 10am-6pm Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; 10am-9pm Thur; noon-5pm Sun.
Credit Cards:
AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Branch:
PC Hooftstraat 80
Phone: +31 (0)20 671
2210
Health
& Beauty
Body Shop
The usual array of shampoos,
lotions and soaps for pampering your body, along with gift-wrapping and refill
services. Prices are higher than in Britain.
Kalverstraat 157-9
Phone:
+31 (0)20 623 9789
Website
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25. Open 11am-6pm Mon; 9.30am-6pm Tue, Wed, Fri; 9.30am-9pm
Thur; 10am-5.30pm Sat; 1-5pm Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Branches:
Kinkerstraat 251
Phone: +31 (0)20 683 7157
Nieuwendijk 196E
Phone: +31 (0)20 626 6135
Homeopathie
This tiny, picturesque store is choc-a-bloc with all it takes to turn
your bathroom into a spa, including a wide range of essential oils and treatment
products from Neal's Yard, Kiehl's and Weleda. If you have a taste for herbs you
can't find in coffeeshops, come here for Celestial Seasonings teas, Solgar Vitamins
and bee pollen in capsule form.
De Munt Vijzelstraat 1
Phone: +31 (0)20
624 4533
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25. Open 9.30am-6pm Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat;
9.30am-9pm Thur; 1-6pm Sun.
Credit Cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V.
