Amsterdam

Amsterdam´s laid back, village-style shopping is sure to delight,

whether you stroll the narrow cobblestone streets between the breezy canals, browse in charming specialist stores set in splendid merchant houses, or bargain for antiques and collectables at cluttered second-hand markets.

Department Stores & Prime Shopping Areas

THE NINE STREETS (NEGEN STRAATJES)

www.theninestreets.com

The elegant houses in the old-fashioned Negen Straatjes or "Nine Streets" – named after the arterial streets connecting Amsterdam canals Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht – are home to hundreds of idiosyncratic shops specialising in everything from vintage clothes and leather handbags to natural perfumes and handmade soaps, including more unusual items like antique monocles and unique toothbrushes. This is the neighbourhood to come for the bespoke, from personalised stationery to made-to-order jewellery.

HAARLEMMERSTRAAT & HAARLEMMERDIJK

This meandering street is Amsterdam´s culinary centre and a foodie heaven, lined with mouth-watering shops, from gourmet supermarkets to Mediterranean delicatessens. Aromatic stores specialise in everything from Dutch cheeses and olive oils to handmade candies and pastries. Great edible souvenirs and picnic basket fillers, including freshly baked breads and Arabic mezze. The fascinating book, music and interior design stores also have superb take-homes.

Fashion

BE INNOCENT

Oude Spiegelstraat / 320 59 87

This whimsical shop has been attracting a steady stream of trendsetters to its flouncy tailor-made Japanese frocks long before Gwen Stefani popularised the Harajuku girl-style. If you can´t pull off the Bo-Peep or Gothic-Lolita looks, the sexy black and white lacy separates should still appeal.

CITY SLICKERS

Wolvenstraat 8 / 627 77 76

Easygoing store with an excellent selection of casual, youthful, unisex labels including Emily the Strange, Lady Soul, Itsus, Kuyichi, and Revolution.

CONCRETE IMAGE STORE

Spuistraat 250 / 262 73 83 / www.concrete.nl

Somewhat zany fashion by Walter van Beirendonck, Maharishi, Michiko Koshino, Obey, and Minus Ung, suspended from the ceiling at this minimalist boutique-cum-gallery and competing for attention with the provocative art on the walls.

Jewellery & Accessories

ANTONIA BY YVETTE

Gasthuismolensteeg 20 & Herengracht 243 / 320 94 43 / www.antoniabyyvette.nl

Yvette Riemersma´s grand canal houses are always crowded with guys and girls slipping on the gorgeous shoes. Try Dutch brand Blackstone´s genteel golfing shoes, Kop en Staart´s colourful strappy numbers, or the beautiful knee-high boots by Walk in the Park.

AMSTERDAM DIAMOND CENTRE

Rokin 1-5 / 624 57 87 / www.amsterdamdiamondcentre.nl

You´ll no longer think only of Antwerp as the diamond capital, after lingering at this alluring Amsterdam emporium with a seemingly limitless array of glittering jewellery, from Bulgari pavé diamond necklaces to gem-encrusted Cartier watches.

BEADIES

Huidenstraat 6 / 428 51 61 / www.beadies.nl

Head here for hip bespoke beaded jewellery. While you can design your own bling, the best way to begin is by choosing one of Beadies´ own fabulous pieces, select the beads, jewels, trinkets and charms you like, then pop across the road for a coffee while the staff work their magic!

Gifts & Homewares

BLOOM

Prinsengracht 272 / 320 11 76 / www.bloomprints.nl

High quality Indian cotton and linen and the finest hand-woven silk handbags, clothes, bed linen and handicrafts. A percentage of profits goes to the artisans in India.

DELFT SHOP

Prinsengracht 440 / 627 82 99

If you can´t bring yourself to leave Amsterdam without buying the obligatory blue and white delftware kissing cousins (or a more useful cheese plate), then head directly to this cluttered canal house, crammed to the hilt with the highest quality original delftware from the finest makers, Royal Porceleyne fles, Royal Tichelaar Makkum and Heinen Delftware.

DROOG AT HOME

Staalstraat 7b / 523 50 59 / www.droogdesign.nl

Expect conceptual design that makes you smile at Droog, which translates to "dry humour" in Dutch. Take Droog Design´s most famous piece of furniture, the "Come a little bit closer" bench by Nina Farkache. Sit down with a friend on this bench topped with marbles and you´ll find yourself sliding closer together.