Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [149]
Shopping | Shops |
Department stores and shopping malls
On the whole, Amsterdam’s department stores are really rather insipid, and the same applies to most of the city’s shopping malls, the bulk of which are consigned to the suburbs. An exception is Magna Plaza, a shopping mall imaginatively sited in the old neo-Gothic post office building behind Dam Square at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182, though even here the shops themselves – comprising the usual big-brand stuff – don’t match the setting.
De Bijenkorf Dam 1 (Old Centre) 020/552 1700. Dominating the northern corner of Dam Square, this is the city’s top department store with an interesting history (see "De Bijenkorf"), a huge bustling place whose name means “beehive”. It’s good for clothes, accessories and kids’ stuff. Mon 11am–7pm, Tues & Wed 9.30am–7pm, Thurs & Fri 9.30am–9pm, Sat 9.30am–6pm, Sun noon–6pm.
HEMA Nieuwendijk 174 (Old Centre) 020/623 4176. A cross between Woolworths and Marks & Spencer, great for stocking up on all the important things you need – underwear, toiletries and other essentials, plus occasional designer delights. Surprises include wine and salami at the back of the shop, and a good bakery and cheese counter; great sweets too. Plus, their Fotoservice is convenient and promises same-day delivery. There’s another branch at Kalverstraat 212 (Old Centre; 020/422 8988). Mon 10.30am–6pm, Tues–Sat 9.30am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–6pm.
Maison de Bonneterie Rokin 140 (Old Centre) 020/626 2162. A venerable old department store that has somewhat reinvented itself as a hub of mainstream designer fashion. The building is attractive too, rising through balustraded balconies to a high central dome. There’s also a small lunch café. Mon 11am–6pm, Tues & Wed 10am–6pm, Thurs 10am–9pm, Fri & Sat 10am–6.30pm, Sun noon–5pm.
Metz & Co Leidsestraat 34 (Grachtengordel south) 020/520 7020. Large department store with floor upon floor of clothing, furniture and household appliances. The rooftop café offers a particularly enjoyable view over the city centre. Mon 11am–6pm, Tues–Sat 9.30am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–5pm.
Peek & Cloppenburg Dam 20 (Old Centre) 020/623 2837. Less a department store than a multistorey clothes shop with some painfully middle-of-the-road styles. Nonetheless, this remains an Amsterdam institution. Mon noon–6pm, Tues–Sat 10am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–6pm.
Vroom & Dreesmann Kalverstraat 203 (entrance also from Rokin; Old Centre) 020/622 0171. The main Amsterdam branch of a middle-range nationwide chain, near Muntplein. It’s pretty unadventurous, but take comfort from the fact that the restaurant is quite outstanding for a department store, and they bake fresh bread on the premises as well. Check out also the listening stands in the CD section on the top floor – the best place for a free Mozart recital with a canal view. Mon 11am–8pm, Tues–Sat 10am–8pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–8pm.
Shopping | Shops |
Food and drink
While the city centre’s supermarkets may not impress, there’s also a whole host of speciality food stores where you can buy anything from local fish to imported Heinz baked beans. The wine and spirits shops listed here have been chosen for their location, their specialities – or simply because they’re good value.
Shopping | Shops | Food and drink |
Supermarkets
Supermarkets are thin on the ground in central Amsterdam and most – apart from Albert Heijn’s flagship store (see below) – are crowded and cramped. If you’re buying fruit and vegetables, note you’ll usually need to weigh and price them yourself (unless a price is given per item, per stuk); put them on the scale, press the little picture, then press BON to get a sticky barcode. If you’re buying beer, juice or water in bottles (glass or plastic), a deposit of €0.10–0.50 will be added on at the checkout; you get it back when you return the empties – to a different store if you like.
Albert Heijn NZ Voorburgwal 226 (Old Centre) 020/421 8344. Located just behind Dam Square, this is the biggest of the city’s forty-odd Albert Heijn supermarkets.