Discover Amsterdam's independent shopping streets
Although Amsterdam lacks large shopping malls, there is a great selection of shops nearby on the pedestrianized streets. You can find upscale boutiques in addition to the standard brands (Zara, H&M).
- Nieuwedijk, a 1 km long pedestrian street
- Kalverstraat for shoes, handbags and perfumes
- P.C. Hooftstraat, near the Rijksmuseum and the Vondelpark, for Cartier, Vuitton, Chanel and other luxury brands
- Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) with its original and vintage boutiques
- The Magna Plaza behind Dam Square for designer clothes
- De Bijenkorf, a department store selling fashion and decorative items.
While many tourists immediately flock to the crowded chain stores on Kalverstraat, those in the know go to one of the city's more locally oriented shopping havens for their retail therapy. De Negen Straatjes, often known as "The Nine Streets," which connects the principal canals between Leidsegracht and Raadhuisstraat, is the most well-known of these.
Over 200 stores, including a wonderful collection of independent boutiques, vintage stores, and speciality shops, can be found here, offering anything from designer clothing to locally created cosmetics. Avoid the tourist traps and visit the Local Goods Store in De Hallen or the I amsterdam Store at Central Station if you want to buy quality Amsterdam brands and authentic Dutch design as mementos.
