Amsterdam has always been one of Europe's main trading
cities, renowned for its variety of goods and prices.
You can easily say Amsterdam is a city for everyone when
it comes to shopping. Chic scattered boutiques, large
and luxurious malls and department stores, street markets,
diamond centers and small outlets of excentric designers
exist together in an original mélange meant to
satisfy a vast range of tastes and needs.
To have a full picture of what commerce means to Amsterdam,
try to imagine of how a city of 10,334 shops plus 141
galleries, 165 antique shops and 50 street markets could
possibly look out! Enormous and, yet, daring you to see
them all. And so that everybody can find something that
suits him, trade places in Amsterdam are open on Sunday,
too. Commerce appears, thus, as the true engine of a city
of color and diversity.
The only places you won't be able to shop at on Sundays
are outdoor markets. Their number and variety speaks highly
of the Dutch trading spirit. However, don't expect to
negotiate with the merchants aut of two simple reasons:
first of all, Amsterdammers don't believe in high prices
and foolish buyers and, secondly, they would rather use
persistence than tricks. The good thing is you can find
cheap items 6 out of 7 days a week, all year long. You
can find a market for whatever i tis that you want to
buy. The Waterlooplein Flea Market, for instance, is one
of Amsterdam's classics, with great chances to have a
really nice bargain. There is nothing you can't buy here:
clothing, watches, cooking pots and even mariner's telescopes.
The luckiest may also run into some high value antique
or painting.
Along the Singel canal lies world's unique floating Flower
Market where some of the healthiest, most brightly colored
fresh-cut plants and flowers await you to take them along
in your voyage home. Tulip bulbs are specifically packed
to travel and are cheaper than anywhere else in Amsterdam.
You can also purchase here any garden accessories you have
dreamed of.
Looking forward to expand your stamps collection? Then
don't leave without having visited the Philatelist Market
beneath the trees of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. It opens
every Wednesday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. and dedicated
stamp collectors consider it a dream come true. Book prints
and second hand rare or not volumes are to be found on
Fridays at the 25-stand Book Market at Spui. From April
until November, on Sundays, you can meet the work of local
artists in outdoor exhibition with sale at the Spui Art
Market. More ceramics, sculpture, paintings and modern
art can also be observed and acquired from April to October
from 10.00 to 18.00 on Sundays at the Thorbeckplein Art
Market.
However, the most visited and appreciated commodities
market remains Albert Cuyp Market, located on Albert Cuypstraat.
From cheese to clothing and plants to textiles, you can
find anything you may be looking for at affordable costs.
Daily, except on Sundays, you can take a tour of Albert
Cuyp Market from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then rest your feet
in one of the coffee shops near it. Farmer's Market, known
as the Bio Market, too, is located at Noordermarkt and
it occurs every Saturday from 9.00 to 5.00 in the afternoon.
People come here for 100% natural food and healthy products.
If you are in Amsterdam to admire and purchase art and
antique items, you are in one of Europe's oldest art and
antique centers. The talent and perseverance of the Dutch
artists can be proven by taking an insight on the galleries
and exhibitions held near the canals and Rijksmuseum.
From paintings, glass and coins to books, furniture and
even Art Deco, Amsterdam is not only the home of Holland's
most valuable treasure- art-, but also one of the best
art dealers in Europe. Other galleries and antique shops
wait for you in Jordan, with special Art Deco exhibits.
Smokers may consider Amsterdam a whole new universe in
what smocking articles are concerned. You can find here
pipes, cigars and high quality tobacco with a distinct
flavor to the American and Cuban tobacco. The distinguished
dry cigars are specific to Indonesia and made following
a unique Dutch method. The result to this combination:
if you are a smoker, you can't miss trying one of the
Dutch smokes!
The glitter of Amsterdam comes, undoubtedly, from the
century-old diamond factories and trade centers. Not only
are they reputed in the Netherlands, but some of them
have been responsible for the cut and polish of world's
most precious diamonds. Don't worry; you don't have to
buy one to see how a diamond is made! Factories organize
free tours for visitors and exhibits of their exclusive
and expensive items.
Fashion victim? This is the city for you! Whether you
prefer designer-wear or not, classic or revolutionary
excentric, Amsterdam will give it to you at prices ranking
your taste. Famous European designer outlets as well as
local creations wait for their customers in fancy small
boutiques often located in unconventional areas in Amsterdam.
Don't forget you can always make supplies for the evening
in one of the evening stores in Amsterdam. You can take
home delicious and sophisticated meals and pay less than
half you would if you had visited a restaurant. Evening
stores are open until 11.00-12.00.
Your kids at home will be enthusiastic to receive the
toys you buy them from one of the museum gift stores here.
Masks, costumes, minitheatres and so much more great and
funny, but educational items can be yours at affordable
prices.
If you are looking for couple excitement, don't feel
ashamed to visit one of the sex shops in Amsterdam. Sex
toys, erotic substances, costumes and other fantasy fulfilling
items are available in most decent and safe conditions.
