The best fashion and gift stores Amsterdam

Probably the most famous address of its kind. It's a diamond-cutting factory that can be visited, and it's a city institution (but a commercial one!). Diamonds are sold here at wholesale prices, which are still wholesale prices (don't dream...). The organization is such that they can even set them up for you within the hour. To digest the expense, why not go and have a drink in the cafeteria, where everything is free. Tours in French are sometimes possible, but please ask in advance. English tours are also available.

In the heart of the Jordaan district, a stone's throw from the popular Noorderkerk, which hosts the Monday second-hand market and the Saturday organic market, this is a bookshop as we like them, with a varied range of magazines and newspapers (French too, of course), literature, art books, cookery books, tourist guides and even a special children's section. The staff are friendly and helpful. Come and buy your newspaper or magazine before enjoying the Noordermarkt apple pie.

For over a decade, the Place du Spui has been home to this bookshop, a veritable institution in the town. It's the temple of American literature, as well as comic books, travel books, cookery books and calendars. The magazine section is simply incredible. We also love the art books and the section devoted to books on Amsterdam or the Netherlands! The knowledgeable staff at ABC (the store's acronym) are at your service. Simply the best English-language bookshop!

Adorable Jordaan boutique selling excellent handmade soaps in every shape, size and scent imaginable, as well as fun little bathroom accessories. For a unique gift, consider soaps in the shape of letters to form a friend's first name... or a lover's! The boutique also offers pretty shower gels, bubble baths and toiletry kits. There's also a plush corner. If the weather's warm, you can enjoy a delicious ice cream on your way out.

An excellent record shop in the center of town, on a lively thoroughfare not far from the Spui literary square, this is the benchmark for dance & electro music. The store is a veritable den of clubbers, as well as amateurs looking for advice and ideas. The site also features a host of suggestions for livening up your upcoming parties. You'll also find a few ideas for T-shirts, hats and hoodies, so you can be right on trend with the music! Address to follow.

This is the biggest record shop in town. Given the rarity of record shops, that's a fact in itself, plus it's a quality address that sells both new and second-hand. The staff are passionate about their work and will undoubtedly be able to help you make your choice. Concerto also organizes fun little concerts. The store also has a cafeteria area with hot drinks and a few pastries, which is very pleasant. An address to cherish, especially as it is the last of its kind in the Dutch capital.

For those nostalgic for vinyl - and there are more and more of them - the best address is a stone's throw from Leidseplein, opposite Paradiso, the famous church converted into a concert hall. You'll find the cream of rock and black music in the basement, as well as a wide selection of rare gems and, above all, invaluable advice from a passionate and friendly staff. A long-standing classic of its kind, to be pampered, of course! A quality address that's a pilgrimage when you're around Leidseplein. A treasure trove of nuggets.

This bookshop is located in the imposing entrance hall of the no less imposing De Bazel building. You really must visit it, both to see all the books about the city of Amsterdam and in several languages. All genres are covered: fiction, comics, cookery books, travel guides and more. An interesting address that can be used as an excuse to visit the archives and enjoy a pie and coffee in the adjoining brasserie. Wide selection of second-hand books and gift ideas.

Located in the club's stadium, it's an Ajax fan's paradise! Over 640^m2, you'll find all the official merchandise of your favorite club. A great idea after a match or a visit to the museum adjoining the stadium and store. A superb boutique at the foot of the magnificent, modern Johan Cruijff stadium, named after the football legend. It's a very big, very complete store, and it's hard not to fall for it. What's more, the team's recent run has given the store a lot of energy recently.

Just a stone's throw from the Nieuwmarkt, in a typical but quiet street, lies an address that has been proving its worth for many years. Il Sogno is a concept store dedicated to products made in Italy: fashion, design, cuisine and more. All fields are covered. And let's not forget the coffee and the delicious pizza. An atypical address not to be missed. This address has a second branch in the new district of Ijburg. A beautiful address that's an excellent option when you're in the neighborhood.

Lululemon is the cool, trendy Canadian brand of "technical" yoga and running clothing. This showroom presents part of the collection, but it's always possible to order other items online. It's also a meeting place with workshops for all yoga fans in the Dutch capital. The store is located in the heart of the trendy 9 Straatjes district, and also offers a variety of yoga classes, notably in a very pleasant patio at the back of the boutique. The welcome is not always very warm.

Absolutely up to date with the latest trends, Lena is the capital's first clothing library. It's the ideal place to borrow the outfit of your dreams. However, a lot of clothes are for sale. Nice space in a former garage near Noordermarkt. This address is in line with the fight against fast fashion and the preservation of the environment. Did you know that the fashion industry is the second most polluting? Lena is a useful and necessary address that challenges our consciences and our consumption patterns.

This boutique is housed in the new buildings of the Oostpoort shopping center in the east of the city. It's a very pleasant place to shop for vintage and Scandinavian-inspired fashion and beauty products, as well as furniture and accessories, all before sipping a cup of coffee. The presentation of the articles is very pleasant and airy, which makes them stand out superbly. We come here to do and treat ourselves, in a neighborhood that's getting more and more lively, with lots of nice new places to spend a good time.

An address not to be missed by all vinyl enthusiasts... Thousands of new and used records await you, neatly arranged in their bins. The store can be spotted from afar thanks to a giant banana as a sign, as the Velvet Underground is obliged to do... A must-see, therefore, especially during a visit to the capital's red light district and student quarter. The store is located in a lively street with a number of interesting boutiques that are sure to please, but for us, it's more the beautiful historical music posters that catch our eye.

An alternative to Rob or Mister B: a leather fetishists clothing shop founded in 1985 by Robin and Rik, in the pure tradition of work well done.

Laura Dols is the place to go for quality vintage clothing for women, men and children. The focus is on the 1950s, but also the 70s, with a strong glitter trend. A great address where you're bound to find something. It's a veritable Ali Baba's cave where you'll enjoy browsing. There are lots of items for children too. It's great to see that fashion is an eternal restart... The quality of the clothes is good and the prices aren't sweet, unfortunately.

Crafted Stories is a very pretty boutique located on the Noordermarkt, literally in the Noorderkerk church. You enter from the side, past a small coffee bar and then onto two different levels. Most of the items here are vintage at attractive prices. Fashion, decor, jewelry, accessories, but also children's books. Some products are made by women in developing countries, prostitutes or isolated elderly people. The idea? A strong social commitment as well as beautiful products!

Tertulia will change any preconceived ideas you may have about coffee-shops as creepy places of perdition. Tertulia is, in fact, a relaxed, natural coffee-shop, superbly housed in the corner of a building on the Prinsengracht. Outside, Van Gigh's paintings are reproduced on the walls, and inside, the decor is plant-based and relaxing. The clientele is mostly young, even students. The terrace is pleasant as soon as the sun comes out. A renowned address since its creation almost 40 years ago... Don't miss it!

Probably the city's best-known coffeeshop, where generations of tourists make a pilgrimage every time they visit. Located not far from the Place du Spui, in a pretty alleyway, it welcomes a varied public (many tourists, naturally) in a psychedelic decor (bright colors and rounded shapes). Wide choice and sound advice. A scene from the now vintage film Ocean's Twelve was even filmed here. Sometimes too crowded, but that's the price of success. On your way out, you'll be tempted by some excellent French fries.