Traditional Shopping in Amsterdam – 5 of the best

Amsterdam is a famous city of contrasts, where relics of the Dutch Golden Age lie side-by-side with symbols of the country’s progressive and liberal present. This makes the Dutch capital a fascinating shopping city, with everything from small, independent boutiques to huge department stores to explore.

Many people flock to Amsterdam for its famous cheese shops and its bulb markets, both of which have been a tradition in the city for centuries, here are some of the best places to buy traditional Dutch goods in Amsterdam…

Henri Willig Stores

Henri Willig is one of the most famous Dutch cheesemakers around, and there are several Henri Willig stores all around Amsterdam. One of the biggest attractions of Henri Willig stores is that they also offer tasting sessions where you can sample some of the country’s best cheeses, including Gouda, Edam and Leerdammer.

What’s more, you can even book this cheese tasting session as part of your mini cruise or short break in Amsterdam.

Bloemenmarkt

The world’s only floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt has been a fixture in Amsterdam since the 1800s and includes up to 15 flower shops as well as souvenir vendors. The market is one of the main suppliers of flowers to Amsterdam and is a major tourist attraction in the city. The market lies in the southern canal belt of the city, between Muntplein and Koningsplein, offering great value and quality in the heart of the city.

Albert Cuypmarkt

With anything up to 260 stands to explore, there’s no better traditional street market to discover in the whole of Amsterdam, and Albert Cuypmarkt has been entertaining locals and visitors alike since 1910. Situated in the De Pijp district, one of Amsterdam’s liveliest areas which is packed with independent shops and restaurants, the market is a great place to pick up both local and international food and produce, as well as gifts, souvenirs and plenty more.

Betty Koster Cheese

Betty Koster is Holland’s most famous cheesemaker, but only opened their store in Amsterdam in 2010, in the Oud Zuid neighbourhood. Betty Koster are renowned for their huge and varied choice of cheeses, with varieties piled floor-to-ceiling, including cheeses from Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and plenty more.

Mark Raven Art

Often, when picking up souvenirs for those back home, it’s easy to go down the cheap and tacky route, and Amsterdam is no different. Mark Raven’s art shop, however, aims to provide visitors with something wonderful that they can take home to remember their trip with. Raven’s work is accessible and tasteful and his prints, pictures and t-shirts, featuring illustrations of the city, are fantastic gifts and mementos.

(Header image credit: Moyan Brenn)