World Travel www.youtube.com/user/World1Tube Amsterdam - Netherlands Tourism bit.ly/HkbxFo Shopping in Amsterdam - Netherlands As in any European capital, international fashion labels are well-represented. Where Amsterdam truly excels is its specialty shops, whether they're stocking comic books, vintage vinyl, tulip bulbs, 3D holograms, erotic toys, medical instruments, cumin cheese or stoneware bottles of jenever (Dutch gin). Key areas: Stomping ground for hordes of shoppers each afternoon, pedestrian-only Kalverstraat offers a combination of classy department stores and fashion boutiques. Leidsestraat, with its boutiques, large fashion store (Metz & Co), souvenir shops and newsagents, is Amsterdam's answer to Oxford Street and the perfect place for tourists to combine a spot of shopping with canal views and café stops. PC Hooftstraat, near the museum quarter, is lined with high-end boutiques like Louis Vuitton, Azurro and Shoebaloo. Nieuwe Spiegelstraat is the place for antiques, art and archaeological pieces. Adventurous shoppers should comb the Negen Straten zone, a set of nine narrow streets wedged between the Leidsestraat and Jordaan neighborhood, for some seriously quirky boutiques, jewellers and vintage clothing outlets, not to mention galleries and cafes. Markets: One of the liveliest open-air food and clothing markets extends for blocks and blocks along Albert Cuypstraat, daily except Sunday, in the eastern district known as De Pijp. The colourful floating bloemenmarkt (flower market) on the Singel is not to be missed. On Saturdays, you'll find the organic food boerenmarkt (farmers market) and the vogelmarkt (bird market) in Noordermarkt. Hundreds of vendors crowd the IJ Hallen flea market the first weekend of each month on the NDSM wharf in North Amsterdam. Free ferries head there from behind Centraal Station every 15 minutes or so. Shopping centres: Right on Dam Square is the hulking Bijenkorf, the city's premier department store, with a good range of clothing, accessories, cosmetics and household items. Nearby, behind the Royal Palace is Magna Plaza, an exclusive shopping centre in a fairy-tale, neo-gothic building. The luxurious De Kalvertoren shopping centre and the upscale Maison de Bonneterie - the Harrods of Amsterdam - are both located on Kalverstraat. Opening hours: Traditional shopping hours are Monday 1200-1800, Tuesday to Friday 0900-1800 (Saturday until 1700 and Thursday until 2100), and Sunday 1200-1700. Tax information: Non-EU residents can obtain a tax refund by requesting tax receipts when making purchases. Upon departure, they must have these receipts validated at EU Customs at Schiphol Airport, then apply for a refund at the Service Wings desk in the Departures section. See for details. Another option is to shop at stores affiliated with the Global Blue network ============================ Amsterdam Shopping, Amsterdam Attractions, Amsterdam Hotels, Netherlands Tourism, Netherlands, Netherlands Travel Guide, Netherlands Vacation, Netherlands Attractions, Amsterdam Tourism, Amsterdam Travel Guide, Amsterdam Vacation, Amsterdam Attractions, Amsterdam

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