Plan Your Christmas Shopping Now

Take the stress out of Christmas shopping and start now. Amsterdam is Christmas shopping paradise. The pedestrian-only shopping streets are packed with excellent specialty stores. Funky shops huddle together in the narrow streets intersecting the canals. I am sure your  your favourite one is tucked away in a narrow street off the main canals.

The problem is not what to buy but where to starts.  Here is a short shopping guide:

Nieuwendijk / Kalverstraat is home to mainstream department stores. You will also find Blokker for household goods, Kruidvat and Etos for toileteries. Come on a quiet Tuesday morning and avoid hellishly crowded saturday afternoons. 

Leidsestraat is lined with reasonably priced designer shoe and clothes boutiques plus a whole bunch of souvenir shops. 

Jordaan district is known for affordable antiques, art and (off the peg) fashion. 

P.C. Hooftstraat, van Baerlestraat and Beethovenstraat, designer clothes, delis, confectioners and upmarket tableware.

Opening hours:

Most shops are closed on Monday morning.

Shopping hours on weekdays and Saturday from 9 am – 6 pm

Thursday is late night shopping until 9 pm

Sunday shopping only in the city centre from noon – 5 or 6 pm.

5 suggestions for special Christmas gifts

1. WHERE: Baba Souvenirshop, Warmoesstraat 47.

WHAT: Incense filled shop with a world of eclectic goods imported from India.

BUY: Wooden sculpted Ganesh, the Hindu God with the monkey head. Incense sticks from mint to cinnamon and all flavours in between. 

2. WHERE: Albert Cuyp Market, Albert Cuypstraat.

WHAT: A feast of colours, smell and sounds. Flower vendors rub shoulder with fish dealers loudly praising their wares.

BUY: Jar of Amsterdam onions, big yellow ones floating in brine. Embroidered silk by the metre imported from India. 

3. WHERE: Zipper, Nieuwe Hoogstraat 10.

WHAT: racks stacked with reinvented, recreated and recycled clothing.

BUY: Vintage mini-skirt. 1950s rock-and-roll petticoat. 

4. WHERE: Bloemenmarkt or Flower Market, Singel between Koningsplein and Muntplein.

WHAT: Floating stalls abounding in cut flowers, pot plants, tulips but only in spring, bulbs and seeds. Also a variety of tacky souvenirs including Delftware windmills and clogs all sizes.

BUY: Can of cannabis seeds. Assorted tulip bulbs (export approved). 

Tajine Dish

5. WHERE: Gallerie Casbah, 1e van der Helstraat 68

WHAT: Everything from tiled fountains to silver hands of Fatima, to ward off the evil eye. All imports from Morocco.

BUY: waterpipe, all sizes and plain or aromatic pipe tobacco. Tajine dish, tapered earthenware pot to prepare tajine.

photo credit: mooste @ flickr.com, tajine dish @flickr.com