This is the first in an occasional series in which I plan to put together lists of five items on a particular subject. In this case, as the subject happens to be Amsterdam, one of my favourite places to visit, I have kicked the series off with five recommended shops, with more subjects to come.
So from shops to bars to things to do, I will be describing five suggestions on that topic in Amsterdam. This is not necessarily what I consider to be the best of class, simply my suggestions which are of course subject to change as is my wont. The order is entirely arbitrary as well, but I do hope you may find these of interest.
Shops
1. Copa Football
This store is an Aladdin’s cave of retro football attire (e.g. retro replica shirts, tracksuits and jackets, some in official collaboration with clubs) plus a big choice of exclusively designed football-themed t-shirts. These vary from the irresistibly humorous such as FC Moustache to some stylish shirts solely on the Copa brand, and they seem to top up the range of classic designs with fresh new pieces from designers and photographers around Europe.
Prins Hendrikkade 20-B 1012 TL Amsterdam, Netherlands | https://www.copafootball.com/
2. Kaashandel Arxhoek
Update: shop now closed; wholesale/online only as far as I know.
Now in the major thoroughfare Rokin after a move from tourist central Damstraat, this fantastic cheese shop retains the same superb selection of Dutch and international cheeses, plus deli items like the delicious raw beef sausage osseworst. Service is knowledgeable and friendly and goods can be vacuum packed for travel. Deli sandwiches are available for takeout, made fresh to order.
Rokin 66, 1012 KW Amsterdam, Netherlands | https://www.arxhoek-fromager.com/
3. P.G.C. Hajenius
I confess that as a non-smoker this may seem like a strange choice but this is a stunning old-school tobacconist on a grand scale. The shop’s high, wood-panelled walls are lined with shelves packed with a baffling array of cigars. With a smoking room that resembles a gentleman’s club situated to the rear, the appearance is very much that of a shop for connoisseurs – which it is – but it’s also very approachable with friendly and helpful staff who can assist you in selecting the finest smoking goods or perhaps a gift for your friends who do want to polish themselves off with whatever gruesome illnesses that now adorn the otherwise beautiful packaging. I’d take the gift wrap.
Rokin 92, 1012 KZ Amsterdam, Netherlands | https://www.hajenius.com/
4. De Ware Jacob
This rather splendid wine shop, which also does a fine line in whisky, is very much in keeping with its historical and picturesque surroundings in the Grachtengordel on the fine little shopping street of Herenstraat. The shop is fairly small but generously stocked with high shelves laden with tempting wines from around the globe. On past visits, I was therefore grateful for the assistance of a very knowledgeable shop keeper who helped me navigate the large selection of quality wines to make a good choice at a pleasing price. I understand they also do a malt of the month offer which does seem to include some genuinely good deals on single malts.
Herenstraat 41, 1015 BZ Amsterdam, Netherlands | http://www.warejacob.com/
5. The American Book Center
More than just somewhere to lose yourself for some period of time on a rainy day, this is a store specialising in English-language books which, along with the Dutch Scheltema stores, seems to give lie to the notion that everyone buys books online these days. This is a store with shelves simply groaning under the weight of books, magazines, journals and other publications of every type, over several floors and even up the staircase as you move up through the shop. It’s a family-owned company that also runs another fine store in the centre of Den Haag.
Spui 12, 1012 XA Amsterdam, Netherlands | https://abc.nl/
Other Shopping Ideas
For a major department store with upmarket brands, try the very central Bijenkorf by Dam Square, the flagship store of a chain with stores in several cities across the Netherlands. Other international chain stores (e.g. Zara, C&A, Primark and H&M) and a lot of other mass market, fast fashion, sportswear and highly debatable leather goods outlets can be found on or just off the pedestrianised streets Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat. These streets run, to the north and south of Dam Square, in parallel with Damrak and Rokin.
Alternatively, for high quality small independent shops, visit the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) district just to the west of Dam Square in the area of the Canal Belt to the south of the Jordaan, which is itself home to a number of good streets with individual stores. Utrechtsestraat, running southwards from Rembrandtplein to Frederiksplein is also well served by a variety of shops, including renowned music store Concerto.