SHOPPING

The pedestrian shopping streets are the Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Leidsestraat and Heiligeweg. Other lively shopping streets are the Damrak, Rokin, Reguliersbreestraat and a number of other streets in the city centre.The shops usually open Mon–Sat 8.30/9 am –5.30/6 pm. On "late" Thursdays the shops stay open until 21.00. However, some shops are closed on Monday mornings.

Antique shops:

Amsterdam has been one of Europe’s art and antique centres for centuries. The Rokin, with its side-streets, has the longest-standing reputation. Since the building of the Rijksmuseum the Spiegel district is also an excellent place to buy and admire antiques.Information can be obtained from the Union of Amsterdam Art dealers:
Vereniging van Handelaren in Oude Kunst
Keizersgracht 207
Tel : 6 23 89 04

Stamps (Postzegels):

Collectors of these small, brightly coloured items can exchange and buy on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at the philatelists’ haunt on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal behind the Royal Palace. The Willem Tiemann (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 300) and Mouritz Postzegels (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 302) stamp shops can also be found there.

Books/magazines:

Athenaeum
Spui 14–16
Wide choice of modern literature, often from Great Britain and the USA; a large selection of specialist books.Right next door (Spui 17) is the Athenaeum Nieuwscentrum. Here you can buy newspapers and magazines from all over the world.

Diamonds:
The "Amsterdam-cut" hallmark is the mark of exceptional quality the world over. Many of the workshops welcome visitors and offer guided tours. Of course you also have the opportunity to buy. A certificate guarantees flawlessness.

Amsterdam Diamond Center
Rokin 1–5
Tel : 6 24 57 87
Guided tours Mon–Wed, Fri–Sat 10 am - 5.30 pm, Thurs 10 am - 8.30 pm, Sun 10.30 am - 5.30 pm

Gassan Diamonds
Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 173–175
Tel : 6 22 53 33
Mon–Fri 9 am –17.30 pm

Department stores:
We have only included the stylish, traditional shops not the modern discount stores:

Maison de Bonneterie
Rokin 140
A respected store in the city centre.

Metz & Co
Keizersgracht/Corner of Leidsestraat
A good place to shop, the café on the roof terrace provides a superb view of the city.

De Bijenkorf
Dam 1
Right on the Dam this department store has been famous for good quality for over a hundred years.

Magna Plaza
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182
An up-to-the-minute shopping centre in a traditional setting.

Art/Art auctions:

You can buy a brochure from the VVV at a very low cost which contains addresses of the best and latest shops.Art auctions are held almost all year round in Amsterdam. You can find out upcoming dates from the daily newspapers or by calling one of the auction rooms. The leading auctioneers are:

Sotheby Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 30
Tel : 550 22 00

De Zwaan
Keizersgracht 474
Tel :  622 04 47

Markets:

Albert Cuyp
Albert Cuypstraat
Mon–Sat 9 am - 6 pm
The king of all markets: fresh fruit and vegetables, exotic fancies and fine spices as well as much, much more that you cannot eat.

Bloemenmarkt
At the Singel/Munttoren
Mon–Sat 9 am - 5 pm
A tourist trap: Amsterdam’s most famous, floating flower market.

Boekenmarkt
Oudemanhuispoort
Mon–Fri 1 pm - 4 pm
Treasure trove for those who love old books and pictures.

Nieuwmarkt
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
Antiques and bric-à-brac.

Noordermarkt
Mon - Sat 10 am - 2 pm
Alternative market with a lot of healthy delicacies. Next to it is a pet market: birds, guinea pigs et al.

Waterloopleinmarkt
Waterlooplein
Mon–Sat 10 am – 5 pm
Perhaps the most famous flea market in Amsterdam, worth a visit even if you do not want to buy anything.

Coins:

Jacques Schulmann
Keizersgracht 448
Tel : 6 23 33 80
The place for numismatics, exchange, sale and purchase of fine coins.

Cigars:

Hajenius
Rokin 92
Tel : 623 74 94
Even anti-smokers are intrigued by what this scented treasure chest has to offer, luxury French cigarettes and "halfzware" tobacco, complete with roots, for roll-ups.