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Brilmuseum
This long-standing shop is an institution, both for its wares and its presentation. You can take in the 700-year history of eyeglasses, as well as a very 21st-century collection, some of them pretty outlandish.
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Broekmans & Van Poppel
Near the Concertgebouw (surprise!), it's the city's top choice for classical and popular sheet music, as well as music books. Head to the 1st floor for a comprehensive selection from the Middle Ages through classical to today.
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Broer & Zus
Cosy little 'Bro & Sis' specialises in Dutch designers and fabrics for kids from birth to six years. You can get brands like Kidscase, tiny tops emblazoned with slogans like 'Mr Charming' and 'ladykiller', and wild prints (think Hawaiian shirts).
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C&A
Alright, so there's little fancy about this Euro-chain (what's a designer brand?), but it's a fine choice if you're backpacking at the threadbare stage and need inexpensive knockabout clothes. It's along the same lines as H&Ms - the well-known Euro-chain. Comb through what they have and choose carefully, and you may even find some wares with style.
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Carl Denig
Opened in 1912, this is Amsterdam's oldest and best outdoor retailer, though you pay for the quality. There are five floors of packs, tents, hiking and camping accessories, snowboards and skis.
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Cats & Things
Head here when the cat (or cat-lover) back home deserves a souvenir. There's the expected assortment of kitty toys, sculptures, grooming needs, beds and climbers, but this shop proves that feline-themed merchandise need not be kitschy and can even be cool.
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Chills & Thrills
Always packed with tourists straining to hear each other over thumping techno music, this busy shop sells herbal trips, mushrooms, psychoactive cacti, amino-acid and vitamin drinks, novelty bongs and life-size alien sculptures. Check out the minivaporiser, a smoke-free way to consume grass.
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Christodoulou & Lamé
The name says it all - and judging by this store's title, Christodoulou & Lamé could have been the place where faux boho was invented. Handwoven Tibetan silk pillows, velvet throws and hand-beaded saris from this treasure-trove of sumptuous soft furnishings will transform your home into a plush sanctuary. It's all about colour, darling!
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Cityboek
We normally don't write up shops selling souvenir posters, but this small publishing house is an exception, with precisely drawn, multicoloured, architecturally faithful prints, books and postcards of Amsterdam's canalscapes (eg images of the entire Herengracht or Singel).
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Concerto
Most excellent. This rambling shop, spread over several buildings, has Amsterdam's best selection of new and secondhand CDs and records; you could spend hours on end browsing in here. It's often cheap, always interesting and has good listening facilities.
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Concrete
Part exhibition space showing rotating exhibitions of adventurous photography, graphics and illustration, and part cool clothes store. Features floating racks of zany Walter van Beirendonck T-shirts and jeans, Dutch labels Razk and D-Cent, along with interesting gear from Maharishi, Obey, Buddhist Punk, Michiko Koshino, Homecore and Minus Ung.
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Condomerie Het Gulden Vlies
Where the well-dressed Johnson shops. Perfectly positioned for the Red Light District, this boutique stocks hundreds of types of condoms, lubricants and saucy gifts. Some of the condoms are decorated like minitropical scenes, or may remind you of your favourite cartoon character.
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Conscious Dreams
Enhance whatever needs enhancing at Amsterdam's original smart shop; the enthusiastic staff can explain everything about magic mushrooms, trippy herbs and cacti. This bright and airy outlet has books, club information and internet facilities.
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Cora Kemperman
Kemperman was a designer with larger Dutch fashion houses, but since 1995 she's been working on her own empire - now nine stores, including three in Belgium. Her creations feature floaty, layered separates and dresses in linen, cotton and wool.
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Cracked Kettle
Cheers! Run by a couple of home brewers, this delightful shop stocks about 80 Dutch beers as well as German Rauchbier (smoked beer), Belgian Kriek and Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout, to name a few. It also carries beer glasses, and ships worldwide.
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De Beestenwinkel
From teeny tiny teddy bears to plastic pig snouts, this pleasantly crowded shop sells de best (the best) of de beesten (animals). Here you can find that itty bitty furry friend for your little non-furry friends. Other bests include: plush toys from skilled toy makers, lamps in animal shapes, and lots of plastic reptiles.
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De Belly
This organic supermarket, in the Jordaan for over three decades, has a great bakery and a small but smart selection of prepared foods, even organic tarts and chocolates.
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De Bierkoning
Beer. Just beer. And more, you guessed it, beer. Some 950 varieties, including hundreds from Belgium, Germany, Britain and, of course, Holland plus glasses, mugs and books on home brewing. It's centrally located right near the Royal Palace, so any self-respecting brewmeister has no excuse not to go.
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De Bijenkorf
Five floors of perfect stock, three cafés and polite staff make this the city's favourite department store. All the usual brands are here (DKNY, Polo and Ralph Lauren) as well as funkier labels like W. Start with pastry at the ground-floor café, then work up to the groovy top-floor clothing shop.
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De Kaaskamer
A small shop with 440 cheeses from around Europe and Holland, and deli items like pâté, cured meats and baguettes. At lunch time it does a roaring sandwich trade.
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De Lach
This eccentric corner shop sells vintage movie posters from all over the world (eg the Italian version of Some Like it Hot ) from around €12 to around €1000 . It's the ultimate in retro-cool. There is also a mini Walk of Fame, signed by Dutch stars, on the sidewalk outside.
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De Waterwinkel
Thirsty? With over 100 types of bottled water (mineral, sparkling, still and flavoured), this calm and pretty store will keep your juices flowing.
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De Winkel Van Nijntje
Dutch illustrator Dick Bruna's most famous character, Miffy ('Nijntje' in Dutch), is celebrated in toys and kids' merchandise. Items range from pencils and soap bubbles to note pads, mouse pads, books, plush toys, clothing and playhouses, to Royal Delftware plates.
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Decorativa
One of the city's most atmospheric antique stores, Decorativa is so cluttered with candelabra, costumes and crystal chandeliers, that it's eccentric owner has put the paintings on the ceiling - look up!
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Deshima
Downstairs, Deshima is a health-food store with all sorts of macrobiotic products, but upstairs there's a lovely selection of prepared foods (plates from around €9 .50 to around €11 .50) and a few seats for eating in. Try the salads and cooked veggies, cakes and tarts.
