Shopping

Amsterdam is regarded as the city of antiques, books, diamonds, and curiosities.

Most shops are open 1-6pm on Mondays and 9/10am-6pm Tuesday to Friday. Some have late night shopping on Thursday until 9pm and close earlier on Saturdays, at 5pm.

The city center, Kalverstraat, Damrak, Leidsestraat, and near the Noorderkerk are best for Sunday shopping.

Cars are not allowed in the city centre for the convenience of pedestrians. This makes shopping in this particular area quite pleasant. There are several "shopping corridors" in the city and each has its own charms and specialties.

A pedestrian only zone. It is rather close to Central Station and mainly dedicated to clothing, sportswear, music and gift shops. Around Dam Square, entering the Kalverstraat, there are even more shoes, clothing, bags, gift shops, cards, perfume, and the occasional coffee shops, fast food restaurants and ice cream salons.

On the corner of the Damrak and Dam Square there is the Bijenkorf, a large and somewhat upmarket department store. On the other side of the Dam Square is Rokin where many of the antique shops, arts and diamond centres are located.

There are a number of mini malls in Amsterdam: Magna Plaza (on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, near the Dam square) or the Kalvertoren (on the Kalverstraat). At the end of the Kalverstraat on the Muntplein there is the Bloemenmarkt.

P.C. Hooftstraat is the place for deluxe boutiques like Cartier, Gucci and others. There are a number of markets worth a visit.

This is the best-known and busiest outdoor market in Europe. Beware on Saturdays it gets really crowded. Here fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, poultry and clothes are sold with prices among the cheapest in Amsterdam. The market is located in the Pijp district.

This market on Mondays from 9am to 1pm is mainly for second-hand books and clothes, antiques, flowers and fresh food, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm there is a special area dedicated to all that is biological.