9 Surprising Streets In Amsterdam
9 surprising streets in Amsterdam - a wealth of shops, cafes, and restaurants
Are you going to Amsterdam for a day? Then skip the busy center and explore these fun 9 streets with a surprising number of shops, cafes, and restaurants.
1. Gerard Doustraat
The cozy Gerard Doustraat, with all its boutiques, feels like a London shopping street. But did you know that a ditch and sawmills surrounded this street in the seventeenth century? Now everyone comes to shop. At Lois (74), women score the best jeans (all sizes); at Living-in By Romy (72), you can buy lovely decorations for your interior. For sustainable clothing (such as great glitter socks) and cream, Verse (84) is the right place. Men will love the streetwear of Baskèts (96), and children will enjoy themselves at the Kinderfeestwinkel (65) or the Kleine Parade (142), a children's shop, café, and hairdresser. Are you more into the food? Then treat yourself to sweet treats from the Hebrew bakery Ugga (103A) and go home with Pacomer's delicious Spanish paella (66).
2. Czaar Peterstraat
The Czaar Peterbuurt used to be known as dangerous, but nowadays it is very cozy, and you can stroll past unique shops in peace. At Plate at Table (139D), you will find plates with beautiful designs, and at the Werkwinkel (104), they have handmade jewelry and works of art for the wall. And what about peanut butter with caramel sea salt, chili pepper lemongrass, or date cinnamon? The choice at the Peanut Butter Shop (169) is enormous. Handy: you can taste all flavors. You go to Spirit (2A) for delicious, fresh, vegetarian food in between or afterward. Don't forget to buy a bottle of God-like olive oil or (white!) Balsamic vinegar from Olie & Zo (173) as a souvenir. The store's back is a restaurant and a nice place to have a cup of tea, especially the pecan-caramel cake. My favorite, HEAVENLY!
3. Jan Evertsenstraat
From gift shops to cafes: these hidden gems in Amsterdam-West are a great place to stay. So you are immediately happy as soon as you enter LYKKE (81) - Danish for happiness - if only because of the attractive interior with rattan chairs and art. Then all those gadgets make you happy, such as T-shirts with the text 'life is great fun dude', happy pillboxes with sweet notes and funny cards. A few doors down is another, more worldly, concept store, Pieter & Tosch (88). Be surprised by items from distant countries and small entrepreneurs. At the end of the afternoon, you have a drink at Bar Baarsch (91), where you can relax on a colorful sofa on the terrace in the summer. In winter, you drink fresh tea from T's Tabar (89). Little time? Then take a pack of ginger-lemon or rose-jasmine tea with you to enjoy it at a different time.
4. Bilderdijkstraat
'It's like a museum with us on Saturdays.' An employee says about The Cartoon (80), but you actually experience that on weekdays. With a rich collection of comic books, Tintin figures, posters, and T-shirts, the store is a mecca for comic book fans. Another unique business that you will discover in the Bilderdijkstraat is COLORS (184). You will find candles in all colors of the rainbow, made by volunteers in the nearby workshop. During your walk, take a break at the trendy neighborhood café Karavaan (Kwakersplein 2). The same square adjacent to Bilderdijkstraat is the beautiful statue 'De Ratelaar,' an ode to the garbage collectors. And there are good fashion stores, especially for men. You can buy trendy sneakers, sweaters, and T-shirts from the Scandinavian brand ØLÅF (112-114) or Daily Paper (131). Are you looking for a neat men's suit? Then go to Catchy (5). Vintage enthusiasts buy exclusive brands at Trekkemaan (165-D) at a friendly price.
5. Kinkerstraat
A side street of the Bilderdijkstraat is the slightly narrower and always lively Kinkerstraat. Different nationalities come together for their daily shopping and to have a coffee at Coffee Room (110) and the Koffiesalon (Ten Katestraat, 42). There are a pleasant smell of Turkish bread, chicken, and herbs (the Volkskruidentuin at 142-B is a must-visit). The clothes racks are just outside and the shop windows invite you to go inside, as with We Are Vintage (193). Some addresses are worth a visit for their interior alone. My favorite is the dome in Hoogstins bookshop (117), with a sky blue sky and black and white photos of the former neighborhood on the side. The concept store Gekaapt (316) feels very attractive because of the many plants and flower decorations on the ceiling. You will undoubtedly succeed here. The sister next to it is a variant for children. With the Ten Kate market and a large, covered food hall around the corner, you will certainly enjoy yourself.
6. Javastraat
The Javastraat in the heart of the East is where you keep coming back to discover new hotspots and taste the pleasant, multicultural atmosphere. The cozy Java Bookshop (145) is highly recommended. The friendly owners Sanne, Sharon, and Lisa are happy to provide you with a book to your taste. Bar Basquiat (88-90) and the Walter Woodbury Bar (47) are popular cafes for a drink among locals. After shopping, there are many excellent restaurants. Will it be seafood bar Fyre (40), Fondue (49), or Italian pizza from La Fucina (99)? Prefer to get your food? Then go to the Couscous bar (30) - where you can choose your own toppings and think back to this pleasant street with these worldly flavors.
7. First Van der Helststraat
When the weather is nice, first take a stroll to the beautiful Sarphatipark, then go to this small street where you immediately enter the market atmosphere of the Albert Cuyp. From the corner of your eye, you can see all the beautiful stalls with oranges and fish. Satisfy your appetite with typical French delicacies from My Little Patisserie (63). You don't want to miss the eclair, a pastry with frosting. You don't do laundry as the name suggests at the Wasserette (27), but you can go there for a hearty and delicious breakfast and lunch. Try the French toast, eggs benedict, or homemade shrimp croquettes. But beware: you may have to wait! The cute concept store Cottoncake (76) and knife store Firma Moes (67) are the highlights in terms of shops. An extension of the Eerste Van der Helststraat is a cozy Scandinavian coffee and tea place: Scandinavian Embassy (Sarphatipark 34). It is known for its flower tea. Striking detail: on almost every street corner in the area, you can see a plaque with the person after whom the street is named.
8. The Clercqstraat
For cozy cafes, restaurants, and colorful shops, De Clercqstraat is the place to be! Do you want unique clothing? The items in TITS (78) are a feast for the eyes and body. In the long street, you will find greenery in the broadest sense of the word. CuKi (62) has it all from small to large plants, and Flowers & Powers (24) has unusual flowers with feathers. But there is more… When you are at the door, you immediately smell the heavenly scent of Vegabond (48), making you want to enter directly. Indeed, you have fantastic vegetarian food. In between, take a look at the beautiful houses on the Da Costakade and warm up at the CoffeeRoastery (27), where you can also work. Want to do something else? It is lovely to spend your day off swinging at Hendrix (82), named after music icon Jimi Hendrix.
9. Jan Pieter Heijestraat
Do you feel like a pleasant stroll? Then go to the Jan Pieter Heijestraat. You will find various boutiques everywhere. For example, the clothing store Johnny at the Spot (94) has something for everyone, and OBJET (100) addresses modern women's fashion and gifts. A zebra statue, lots of gold, and walls with bright colors and dots: Dolores Del Dia Vintage (91) looks like a gallery; there is so much to admire. You are always in the right place at Café Cómodos (110): during the day, you eat sandwiches there; in the evening, you have a drink. Holly Ravioli (88) has fifteen types of ravioli, which you can eat on the spot or take away. It will be challenging to choose… But we can reveal that it is worthwhile with minced veal, sage, red onion, and anchovy butter!