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Riele
Fancy and edgy at the same time, this minimalist space lets the clothes do the talking. Designers include Ines Raspoort (Dutch), E Play (Italian), Tone Barker (Danish) and Ghost (British). After kitting yourself out, accent your ensemble with some accessories from the Dutch designers Chick on a Mission.
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Rituals
The flagship store of this heavenly brand (now a successful global franchise) produces sublime products focused on enlivening everyday cleaning, refreshing, relaxing and energising rituals - from bathing to washing the dishes. We especially love its Rice Scrub, Hammam Body Mud and Lotus Massage Oil.
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Rock Archive
The whites are white, and the blacks are black at this professional shop of limited-edition rock 'n' roll prints. Robert Plant, Debbie Harry, Sting and tons of others are all there to be had for small change, in a format of your impeccable choice.
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Santa Jet
Relationship a bit rocky? Career in the doldrums? Hotfoot it to Santa Jet and buy up big. You'll need their love potions, a few Mexican shrines and religious icons, some Day of the Dead paraphernalia and an assortment of good-luck charms. Even if your life is perfect, who knows when it could all go wrong?
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Selexyz Scheltema
The largest bookshop in town is a true department store with many foreign titles, and New Age and multimedia sections. It can be dizzying. Readings and book launches take place next to the upstairs cafė
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Seventyfive
At this true temple to trainers, you can stimulate your sports-shoe obsession with all the latest high-tech footwear. For sport or fashion you're sure to find something here that'll make your toes twinkle. The brands on offer include Gola, Diesel, Everlast, Nike and Adidas. Naturally, Von Dutch makes an appearance too.
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Shirt Shop
On gay Amsterdam's main street, this funky, two-storey shop sells tight-fitting men's shirts to make you look fabulous. Look for sale items around €25 .
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Shoebaloo
The spaceship design of this futuristic store demands a look - during the sales kick up your heels at discounts on shoes by Prada, Miu Miu, D&G, Gucci and Christian Dior. There are four other branches around the city, specialising in mens, womens and childrens shoes as well as accessories.
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Skins Cosmetics
The Netherlands' exclusive importer of special brands of fragrances, cosmetics and skin-care and beauty products: think Aesop, Dyptique, Etro, Laura Mercier and the Art of Shaving. They also do makeup sessions and facials.
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So Dutch Fashion
The Dutch Fashion Foundation promotes the best of Dutch fashion and helps designers develop their labels into commercial brands. Its showroom at the World Fashion Centre provides haute couture ateliers and carries collections by the hottest Dutch designers, such as Mada van Gaans, Jan Taminiau, Bas Kosters and Percy Irausquin.
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Spoiled
At this one-stop-shop urban lifestyle store you'll find labels like Mads Norgaard, Rare, Junk De Luxe, Skunk Funk, True Religion, Stella Nova, My Ass, Fred Perry, Tommy Hilfiger and Tiger of Sweden, along with stylish shoes and accessories, cool magazines and art. You can also throw back an espresso and get your hair cut.
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Stadsboekwinkel
Run by the city printer, this is the best source for books about Amsterdam's history, urban development, ecology and politics. Most titles are in Dutch (but you can always look at the pictures) - you'll also find some in English. It's in the City Archives building.
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Stenelux
Buy an old fossil for that old fossil you left back home. Stenelux has a smart collection from this world and beyond (including meteorites).
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Tinkerbell
The mechanical bear blowing bubbles outside this shop fascinates kids, as do the intriguing technical and scientific toys inside. You'll also find historical costumes, plush toys and an entire section for babies.
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Torch Gallery
Torch, one of Amsterdam's most cutting-edge galleries, is proud of its diverse selection. Around a dozen shows per year include photography and new media from many countries, and occasional painting and sculpture, from artists like Anton Corbijn (whose coverage of U2 was famous) and Annie Sprinkle.
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Typo Gallery
A peek inside the artistic mind of Ewald Spieker, who creates graphic art out of typography. He's been exhibited all over and published books of his work. Just a few of his works are for sale; the red 'YES' made of stacks of cardboard had our name written all over it.
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University Shop
The University of Amsterdam has a lovely logo, and you can wear it on your lovely person with T-shirts, sweatshirts and the like, or carry it around on book bags or even bottle openers.
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Unlimited Delicious
Is it ever! It's tempting to dive into the gorgeous, sculptural cakes and tarts, but - if you can - walk past them to the dozens of varieties of chocolates made in-house. Some of the more outlandish combinations (that somehow work) are rosemary sea salt, caramel cayenne and Laphroaig whisky. More standard choices include coffee, nougat and our favourite: Ceylon cinnamon.
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Urban Picnic
Everything you need for a picnic in the park or a snack for the train: baskets, plasticware, paper goods, nifty biodegradable wooden utensils and, oh yes, the food, like sandwiches of smoked Irish salmon with horseradish cream, or lamb sausage with mustard mayo.
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Uri Duri
South Korean An-Su Kim's tiny boutique stocks funky little (little being the key word) dresses in retro fabrics that she designs and her mother and sister sew up in Seoul. These sassy numbers you won't find elsewhere are teensy - but they're worth dieting for.
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Van Ravenstein
Chic men and women shop here for upmarket Dutch and Belgian designers including Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Martin Margiela and Viktor & Rolf.
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Vlieger
Since 1869 this two-storey shop has been supplying paper to Amsterdam, and not just any paper: Egyptian papyrus; lush handmade papers from Japan, India, Nepal and Guatemala; papers inlaid with flower petals or bamboo; and paper textured to look like snakes.
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Volksbond Shop
A relic from the days when Haarlemmerstraat was not so chic. Proceeds from sales of used clothing (most items around €1 .50 to around €10 ) help finance facilities for the homeless: halfway houses, counselling services and the like.
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Vrolijk
Said to be the Netherlands' largest gay and lesbian bookstore, Vrolijk carries most of the world's major gay and lesbian magazines, as well as novels, guidebooks and postcards. The selection is truly extensive. Climb the stairs for art, travel, poetry and DVDs/videos.
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Vroom & Dreesmann
Slightly more upmarket than Hema, this national chain is popular for its clothing and cosmetics. Its fabulous cafeteria, La Place, serves well-priced, freshly prepared salads, hot dishes and pastries.
