Amsterdam shopping guide

SHOPPING PARADISE

Amsterdam is one of the shopping capitals of Europe, albeit a lesser known than others.
The major shopping streets are Kalverstraat, Leidsestraat, PC Hooftstraat, Nieuwendijk.
Its outlets rangee from the Bijenkorf department store in Dam Square and the Magna Plaza in Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182 to tiny boutiques selling all sorts of things. The best place to browse is in the newly named Nine Streets district, the thoroughfares of which run perpendicular to the main canals.
You can walk along the chic PC Hooftstraat, the most exclusive shopping street of Amsterdam (with all the most famous designer labels), across the Max Euweplein, to the Leidsetraat, from where you can find shops all the way till the Central Railway Station. The Max Euweplein has not only beautiful shops, but also lunchrooms and the Holland Casino, a perfect opportunity for an evening out.
The Leidseplein has a high number of cafés, restaurants, theatres, night clubs, cosy pubs & bars.
Many antique shops are in another street, the Spiegelstraat.
Then you can visit the floating flower market, the flea market (Waterloo plein) and the largest street market in Amsterdam, Albert Cuyp market.
At the end of the day you can choose from dozens of cosy restaurants for a nice dinner, or you could have a romantic dinner or candlelight cruise across the magnificently lit Amsterdam canals.
Amsterdam also means nightlife. There are discos, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and cafés for everybody's taste. And, of course, the renowned red light district.

SHOPPING & AFTER SHOPPING

Amsterdam has a lot to offer for shopping enthusiasts. The major shopping streets are Kalverstraat, Leidsestraat, PC Hooftstraat, Nieuwendijk.
You can walk along the chic PC Hooftstraat, the most exclusive shopping street of Amsterdam (with all the most famous designer labels), across the Max Euweplein, to the Leidsetraat, from where you can find shops all the way till the Central Railway Station. The Max Euweplein has not only beautiful shops, but also lunchrooms and the Holland Casino, a perfect opportunity for an evening out.
The Van Baerlestraat is another shopping street.
The Leidseplein has a high number of cafés, restaurants, theatres, night clubs, cosy pubs & bars.
Head for Pompadour Chocolaterie, in Huidenstraat 12 for chocolates and pastries. On Monday mornings, visit the Noordermarkt, a market selling vintage clothes, books, antiques and junk.
The best places to purchase both kitsch junk and good antiques are De Looier, in Elandsgracht 109, open Saturday-Thursday, and the Rommelmarkt, in Looiersgracht 38, Saturday-Thursday.
Many antique shops are in another street, the Spiegelstraat.
Then you can visit the floating flower market, on the Singel canal, between Muntplein and Koningsplein, with its floating barges loaded with tulips, smelling really sweetly. And the flea market (Waterloo plein), and also the largest street market in Amsterdam, Albert Cuyp market.
At the end of the day you can choose from dozens of cosy restaurants for a nice dinner, or you could have a romantic dinner or candlelight cruise across the magnificently lit Amsterdam canals.
Amsterdam also means nightlife. There are discos, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and cafés for everybody's taste. And, of course, the renowned red light district.

An interesting cinema is the Tuschinskitheater, a lavish art-deco cinema created in 1921 by a Pole who brought Hollywood to the Netherlands. All films are screened in their original language. The address is Reguliersbreestraat 26-28, tel. 623 1510.

HOURS OF OPENING IN HOLLAND

SHOPS: Most shops are open from Tuesday to Friday between 9 am and 6 pm. On Saturdays business hours differ between 8:30/9 - 4/5 pm. Mondays shops open between 11 am and 1 pm and close at 6 pm. Most cities have late-night shopping (until 9 pm) on Thursdays or Fridays. In holiday and tourist resorts many shops are open at night and on Sundays. For business hours on Sundays or late night shopping, please call a local tourist information office.
SUNDAY SHOPPING AND LATE-NIGHT SHOPPING IN THE MAIN CITIES
Amsterdam
Sunday: every week from 12 am to 7 pm Late night shopping: every Thursday until 9 pm
The Hague
Sunday: every week from 12 am to 5 pm Late night shopping: every Thursday until 9 pm
Maastricht
Late night shopping: every Thursday until 9 pm

BANKS: Business hours differ between banks. Most banks are open from Tuesday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. On Mondays businesss hours start mainly at 1 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays banks are closed. GWK offices are openen 7 days a week.
POST OFFICES: Regular post offices are open from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm. Bigger ones are also open on Saturdays between 9 am and 12 noon/12:30 p.m.
CHEMISTS: Regular business hours are Monday to Friday between 8/9 am and 5:30/6 pm. However, chemists are open on a rotation schedule to cover nights and weekends.
RESTAURANTS: Business hours vary, but usually restaurants are open for lunch from 11 am to 2:30/3 pm and for dinner from 5:30-10/11 pm.

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