Shopping in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Tourist 
Information




Explore all Amsterdam shopping areas with the

Amsterdam Shopping Map   

What are the best places for shopping in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is the city of antiques, books, diamonds, and curiosities. In general, shop-opening hours are 1-6pm on Mondays and 9/10am-6pm Tuesday to Friday. Most have late night shopping on Thursday until 9pm, and close earlier on Saturdays, at 5pm. Some supermarkets, like Albert Heijn stay open until 8 or 10 pm. On Sundays, you can shop in the city center, Kalverstraat, Damrak, Leidsestraat, and near the Noorderkerk.

Since many roads in the center are closed to cars, it makes for pleasant shopping. You will still find busses, trams, taxis and bicycles though, so watch you step. There are several “shopping corridors” in the city and each one has it’s own charms and specialties.

Bijenkorf Amsterdam

Amsterdam offers a big variety of shopping areas, with the southern part of the city for the upperclass, like the PC Hooftstraat near the Rijksmuseum and the Beethovenstraat with a number of luxurious fashion boutiques. In the center of the city between Dam square and the Muntplein you'll find Amsterdam's biggest commercial shopping area the Kalverstraat with big fashion and shoe stores. Don't forget to visit the Bijenkorf located on the Dam square, a large and exclusive department store with top brands like Louis Vuitton etc. also perfumes and interior design and a good place for a lunch.

Amsterdam: diamonds and tullips

There are some unique items in Amsterdam, like jewellery and diamonds. Amsterdam is the center of diamand trade and you can buy special jewellery from one of many world famous factories who also demonstrating diamond cutting. It's possible to take a free guided tour at a diamond factory and see how dutch craftsmen polish and cut a diamond. Coster Diamonds is the oldest diamond factory in Europe and still operating, another world famous diamond factory with guided tour is Gassan Diamonds. 

Flower parade Amsterdam

The wealth of the city also came from the flower trade, especially tulips in every color imaginable but also myriad of other plants. There is also a special flowermarket in the center of the city with souvenir shops and flower shops with tulip bulbs. During the spring season there is always a flower parade in Amsterdam. If you want to see lots of flowers, you can visit Keukenhof, about 20 miles away from Amsterdam.


Amsterdam also has several markets that are worth a visit, they give a good picture of the multicultural society of Amsterdam.

Open air markets in Amsterdam:

Albert Cuyp markt: Albert Cuypstraat - general goods, food produce, exotic herbs and spices. 

Antiek markt De Looier: At Elandsgracht - antiques, art, furniture, jewellery, clothing, silverware, general goods.

Bloemenmarkt: Singel – floating flower market with flowers, seeds, plants, bulbs and souvenirs. 

Boekenmarkt: Oudemanhuispoort – book market with a selection of titles, cards, maps, engravings and comic books. 

Dappermarkt: Dapperstraat, near Wijttenbachstr – daily general market with food, clothing and general household items. 

Poszegel markt: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal - stamps, coins, old postcards and commemorative medal.

Lindengracht Markt: Lindengracht - food, general goods, shoes, DVD’s bicycles and bicycle parts. 

Noordermarkt - Farmer's Market with mushrooms, biological food, cheese, fresh fish, herbs. 

Waterlooplein – flea market with second-hand clothes, bric-a-brac, second-hand clothing, CDs, DVDs, appliances and other brand new and used goods.