Retail Therapy: The Amsterdam Stores That Are Worth Your Time and Money

Shopping no longer holds the key to my heart the way it once did – and as such it no longer holds a strong spot in my travel itinerary, either. However, there is something so fun about responding, “Oh this? I got it in Paris/New York/Amsterdam/wherever,” when someone asks you about your outfit.

Our recent visit to Amsterdam yielded very few shopping bags as I’m quite content with most of my wardrobe as it is. But I do love browsing small boutiques, testing different fragrances, running my fingers across luxurious fabrics, and gleaning information from shop employees – both about designs and about local restaurants and bars.

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On this list, you’ll find a few local/smaller retailers as well as a few smaller chains that I don’t have access to in Florida. Unless we’re suddenly in need of something that we can only get at one specific place – which is pretty much never – we have a rule that we don’t shop at places with locations back home (the same goes for restaurants and coffee, too!). With that all said, here are a few shops worth a stop in next time you’re in Amsterdam:

Denham

Denham | Multiple Locations

If I needed jeans (and my wallet was perhaps a bit plusher) Denham would be one of the first places I would look. There are several Denham stores throughout Amsterdam, some of them catering to a specific demographic – so be sure to check out their Store Locator before you go. In addition to quality denim, Denham also sells other clothing items and accessories.

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De Hallen

De Hallen | Hannie Dankbaarpassage 47, 1053 RT Amsterdam, Netherlands

A collective space, De Hallen offers lots of opportunities for shopping (and dining – Foodhallen, one of the places I mentioned in my Amsterdam dining post, is located in De Hallen). My favorite of the shops we visited had to be The Maker Store, which was chock-full of locally made gifts and home items. Be sure to take a look at the postcards, even if you don’t need one!

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The Pelican Studio

The Pelican Studio | now closed

The Pelican Studio, ~~located on Raadhuisstraat~~ (now closed), is a surprisingly spacious store carrying brands like Won Hundred, Norse Projects, and Samsøe Samsøe. Better yet, they carry men’s clothing as well as a dizzying array of fragrances and accessories. Staff are friendly and ready to assist if you have any questions.

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Arket

Arket | Koningsplein 20, 1017 BB Amsterdam, Netherlands

Arket was one of the stores on my list to check out well before we arrived, and I have to say while I love it in theory (it’s like H&M’s hip-yet-classic and also more-conscious older sibling), things just didn’t work out for my curvy body type. That being said, if well-made, oversized basics are your thing, Arket is your place. I suspect if we lived nearby we’d be stocking our home with items from their home line – instead, we just stocked our stomachs with items from their cafe.

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Deciem

Deciem | Runstraat 10, 1016 GK Amsterdam, Netherlands

Despite the frequent rants on the Deciem Instagram feed, the subsequent shakeups, and eventually the temporary closing, we managed to stop by the Amsterdam store while in the city. It’s a small space, thus it felt really full inside, despite the fact there were only a few other shoppers. There are testers of each product on the shelves, but you’ll have to ask the staff to borrow a mirror. Customer service was a bit lacking, but the prices helped make up for it a bit. In the end, I left with three products, all from The Ordinary: Serum Foundation, High-Spreadability Fluid Primer, and Caffeine Solution (the last of which was a huge help for my tired traveler’s eyes!).

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Søstrene Grene

Søstrene Grene | Nieuwendijk 219, 1012 MH Amsterdam, Netherlands

Søstrene Greene is actually a Danish store with locations around the world, but my first encounter with it was in Amsterdam. My first thought is that it felt similar to a Flying Tiger (which, coincidentally, is also a Danish company), but perhaps more ~aesthetic~. If I was planning a party or looking for decorations for my home, this is where I would shop first.

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De Kinderfeestwinkel

De Kinderfeestwinkel | Gerard Doustraat 65, 1072 VL Amsterdam, Netherlands

I have five siblings under the age of 14 (I know), so we stopped into De Kinderfeestwinkel to see about souvenirs for them. The products within were a little below their age range but were still darling to look at.

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Charlie + Mary

Charlie + Mary | now online only

Selling what they define as “True Fashion,” Charlie + Mary carries ethical/sustainable brands like People Tree, Veja, and Swedish Stockings (edit: they are now online-only and run their own slow fashion line). The shop is airy and leaves plenty of room for browsing – there are no salespeople breathing down your neck which is a lovely change. I was so happy to find an ethical retailer in each of the countries we visited on this trip.

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Anecdote

Anecdote | now closed

Anecdote occupies a pocket of space on Wolvenstraat (edit: now closed) and ensures their focus is on design and quality. According to their website, each time a garment is designed, they pose one question: “Are you going to love and wear this item for many years to come?” That kind of thought put into the design process is fully aligned with my consideration of additions to my wardrobe.

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Fromagerie Abraham Kef

Fromagerie Abraham Kef | Multiple Locations

I figured I might as well include one food-shopping location on this list! Fromagerie Abraham Kef sells classic Dutch cheeses, as well as a few surprising finds from elsewhere. We didn’t make it over to the tasting room in Amsterdam Noord but did pick up a few stinky yet delicious options to enjoy back at our Airbnb. Skip the overpriced touristic cheese spots, and pop into a place that feels more local.

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Where is your favorite place to shop in Amsterdam?