-
Discostars
Both the disco generation and the 'disco sucks' generation will enjoy this repository of music of yesteryear. If any of the names Olivia Newton-John, Engelbert Humperdinck, Paul Young, Celia Cruz, Candy Dulfer, Buddy Holly, Yves Montand, Doris Day or Roy Rogers mean anything to you, you'll find lots more to like.
-
Droog Design
A relative newcomer on the international design scene, this slick Amsterdam-based firm is already a market leader with inventions like the 85-lamp chandelier, the cow chair and curtains with dress patterns. There are over 180 products by 100-plus designers.
-
Eduard Kramer
Kramer is way too cute and kooky to consider itself a serious antiques store - they leave that to the street's more sober dealers. Crammed to bursting, with enough nooks and crannies to keep you browsing for hours, this family-run business specialises in antique Dutch wall and floor tiles and wonderful Dutch vintage homewares.
-
Eh Ariëns Kappers
This pretty gallery stocks original prints, etchings, engravings, lithographs, maps from the 15th to 20th centuries, and Japanese woodblock prints.
-
Eichholtz
This small deli is bursting with everything homesick Brits and Americans yearn for, such as Oreo cookies, Betty Crocker cake mix, Heinz baked beans, peanut butter (Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan!), HP sauce and Bird's custard.
-
English Bookshop
This attractive, canalside shop has a well-chosen selection of English-language biographies, novels and translations of the works of Dutch writers.
-
Episode
Visiting rock stars head to Episode to trawl through two floors of fabulous vintage and secondhand gear. Most impressive when we last dropped in were the seemingly endless racks of 1970s suede coats, folk peasant blouses, colourful ponchos and big, bright plastic sunshades.
-
Eva Damave
Eva Damave creates funky wool sweaters and zip jackets with her signature front patchwork panels made up of graphic cotton, silk and wool squares. She only produces one-offs or in small series, so you're unlikely to see anyone else wearing your woolly knit.
-
Exota
Head here for hip gear from indie labels such as King Louie and Aem Kei to global brands such as Kookai and French Connection. Also has kitsch accessories such as kooky dolly bags by local designer Olga Harbidge.
-
Fair Trade Shop
A brilliant place to buy something out of the ordinary for those at home waiting for their 'insert catchphrase here' magnet. This charitable shop features quality, stylish products from developing countries including clothes, food, toys, CDs and interesting ceramics. The company works directly with producers and provides ongoing business training.
-
Advertisement
-
Fame Music
This Dutch megastore has an enormous number of titles with broad (and mainstream) collections of pop, jazz and classical CDs, DVDs and videos. It also sells tickets to big concerts. Sale prices can be quite reasonable. The latest and greatest usually blow through here for their signings.
-
Fates
Modern fashion accessories made of natural materials, from fair-trade studios in India and Southeast Asia. We were particularly taken with the groovy tulip-shaped bags from Bali, diaphanous silk shawls and fresh-water pearl necklaces.
-
Female & Partners
Everything you need for your inner dominatrix…or the one who's waiting for you at home. Female & Partners is filled with clothing, undies, leather and toys for women and those who love them. Thank goodness men aren't the only ones who get to have fun!
-
Fietsfabriek
Wessel van den Bosch trained as an architect, and now he makes custom bicycles from this wild 'n' crazy workshop, one of several in Amsterdam. Come in and pick up a bakfiets (cargo bike), a familiefiets (with covered 'pram') or even a standard Omafiets (one-gear city bike). Just browsing is a joy.
-
Fotographia
An unusual name for a bookstore, yet it works. After all, this classy new shop is as simple as a photo lab. It is stocked full of publications featuring various famed artists, including the likes of Alfred Stieglitz, Charlotte Dumas, Rineke Dijkstra and Magritte.
-
Frozen Fountain
The city's best-known showcase of furniture and interior design. Prices are not cheap, but wares are offbeat and very memorable (designer pen-knives, kitchen gadgets).
-
Galerie Lambiek
Possibly the world's oldest comic store, Lambiek has been in operation since 1968 and stocks an impressive range of underground comics, newspaper strips, web comics and even erotic comics, along with classics such as Tintin and Asterix.
-
Galleria D'arte Rinascimento
This pretty shop sells Royal Delftware ceramics (both antique and new), all manner of vases, platters, brooches, Christmas ornaments and interesting 19th-century wall tiles and plaques.
-
Gamekeeper
The selection of board games is dizzying, as is the imagination that went into making them. Start with checkers, chess and mah jong, and move on to Cathedral (build a city in styles like the Great Wall of China or the souk in Marrakech) or Rush Hour (help a car get out of traffic). 'Cooperative' games encourage players to play with, not against, each other.
-
Geels & Co
Operating from this glorious, aromatic store for over 140 years, this distinguished tea-and-coffee merchant also sells chocolate, teapots and coffee plungers. You can organise tastings by appointment. Be sure to visit the interesting little museum upstairs which features mainly coffee equipment such as old grinders, roasters and porcelain.
-
Advertisement
-
Get Records
This deceptively large store has an eclectic and wide range of rock, folk, country and blues CDs. It's a decent break from the club music scene.
-
Goldstrasse
Some 14 designers from the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Austria and more exhibit here. One example is Amsterdam-based Marina Alexandre, a jewellery designer and teacher. You'll see rings (in gold, silver and silicone). Fittingly, since many of the artists graduated from the Rietveld Academy, works here are more like wearable art.
-
H&M
This fashion chain store has up-to-the-minute clothes for all ages at several locations. You may find higher quality elsewhere, but prices are remarkably low.
-
Hana Zuki
Local designers started this funky boutique-come-studio as a showcase for their creations and those of their friends. Check out Hana Zuki's own graphic fashion, hip Aiko label, and edgy Phatoak by Dutch Natasja van den Elzen, along with illustrations, magazines, Lomos, and Maomaland's handmade toys.
-
Hans Appenzeller
Appenzeller is one of Amsterdam's leading designers in gold and stone, and is known for the simplicity and strength of his designs. He has been operating his store/gallery for 30 years, producing striking filigrees. If his sparse work is not to your taste, all along the same street you'll find a row of jewellery shops.
