Shopping for Amsterdam souvenirs is an experience unlike most other major cities. Instead of massive department stores, the city still has a lovely mix of independent shops and family-run businesses.
Often operating for generations, many of these shops are also specialists in their field. This creates a uniquely personal, authentic feel to a day spent shopping in this city of canals. Here are some of the best things to buy in Amsterdam.
Stroopwafels
Stroopwafels
Stroopwafels are the thin waffle cookies with caramel filling you’ll commonly find served in cafés. In street markets, you’ll also find stalls selling them hot and fresh from a traditional griddle.
The best way to eat these Amsterdam treats is to leave them atop a hot cup of coffee until the steam softens them slightly. Buy a tube or two—they travel better than a packet—at any grocery store or duty-free shop for a tasty Dutch souvenir.
Cheese
Cheese
One reason the Dutch are the world’s tallest people—nearly six feet on average—is said to be their cheese-rich diet. Gouda or Edam are certainly world famous, while Leerdammer or Old Amsterdam are among the many other popular cheese varieties. A pack of authentic Dutch cheese is one of the best things to buy in Amsterdam to remind you of your visit.
Visit a proper kaaswinkel, or cheese shop, to discover even more choices for any taste, many vacuum-packed ready to ship home. The wax coatings of both Gouda and Edam helped them travel far long before the days of refrigeration—the foundation of their global fame.
Wooden Clogs
Wooden clogs
Klompen, the traditional clogs carved from one piece of wood, were once practical footwear in Dutch factories or muddy fields. Warm in winter, cool in summer, and moisture-wicking all year, they are still worn by gardeners and some farmers.
However, you’re more likely now to come across them in souvenir shops, in all sizes and varieties. For a genuine handmade pair to actually wear yourself, find a klompenmaker such as De Rembrandt Hoeve in Amsterdam Noord.
Toys
Sjoelen
The Dutch love simple, wooden toys for children and the best of them make excellent gifts. Many incorporate Montessori educational principles and are solidly built to last through generations.
Look for brands such as Plan Toys, famous for its simple, colorful designs aimed at encouraging children to play together. It’s widely available here, although it’s in fact Thai-owned. A sjoelen or shuffleboard game is another good choice as something to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Dutch Fashion
Clothing
Dutch fashion brands have won international recognition for their striking approach to casual wear and street fashion. Names that stand out for anyone with an interest in contemporary design include Scotch & Soda and G-Star Raw.
In Amsterdam, both brands offer Netherlands-exclusive pieces not available on the international markets. Other, less famous names can be found around the city, showcasing the Dutch love of practical elegance: beautiful clothing you can wear on a bike.
Delftware
Delftware
Inspired by imported Chinese porcelain, potters in Delft began making their distinctive deep blue pottery in the late 16th century. The Royal Delft factory in Delft—a lovely day trip from Amsterdam—is still the best place to see skilled artisans hand-painting it.
However, you don’t have to walk far in Amsterdam to find some for sale in antique shops or market stalls. Tourist shops have mass-manufactured imitations at cheap prices but the genuine article can cost hundreds, if not thousands of Euros.
Jenever
Jenever
Jenever is the older, more complex cousin of gin, invented by the Dutch in the 16th century. Once you’ve tasted it, preferably in a traditional tulip glass filled to the brim, you may not want to go back to your London Dry.
Jonge or young jenever has a clean, neutral taste, while Oude, or old jenever is closer to the complexity of whisky. A bottle of either—or both—is one of the most distinctive things to buy in Amsterdam.
Drop
Drops
The Dutch love licorice, or Drop, which is sold in every grocery store or in specialist candy chains such as Jamin. From sweet to salty, soft to hard, the choice ranges in taste from mild to blow-your-head-off strong.
Dubbel zout, or “double salt”, is certainly worth avoiding if you are a novice. Work your way up from the sweet—confusingly called zoet—before tackling anything flavored with ammonium chloride—“salmiak”.
Dutch Chocolate
Dutch chocolates
If you do have a sweet tooth, Dutch chocolate might be a safer souvenir than the Russian roulette of salted Drop. It is less sweet than American and even British varieties, with more emphasis on the cocoa flavor.
Names to look out for include Verkade, Droste, or the quirky Tony’s Chocolonely—easy to find in grocery chain Albert Heijn. For something a bit special, put together a gift box in the specialist Amsterdam chocolatiers such as Puccini Bomboni or Ganache.
Poffertjes Pan
Poffertjes
Poffertjes are delightful mini pancakes, lighter and fluffier than normal pancakes, and dusted with powdered sugar. They are made with a batter that includes yeast and buckwheat flour, using a traditional 19-hole pan.
If you acquire the taste for poffertjes, you can find pans for sale in hardware stores or street markets. Look for a quality one in cast iron as a unique Amsterdam souvenir.
Flower Bulbs
Flower bulbs
Flower bulbs are a long-lasting Dutch souvenir, blooming year after year once planted at home. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths all make wonderful splashes of color at different times and are easy to pack or ship.
There are plenty of shops in Amsterdam that will advise you on regulations for your home country, and help with shipping. They’ll also help you find more unusual varieties, such as black, feathered, or multi-colored tulips.
Dutch Coffee
Dutch coffee
The Dutch love their coffee and the city is packed with cafés in every style. The Dutch East India Company first brought coffee beans back from the East Indies in the 17th century.
Dutch coffee is much stronger than American coffee, albeit served in smaller cups, with a preference for strong, dark roasts. A favorite brand is Douwe Egberts but vacuum packs of any coffee travel well and make great gifts.
Dutch Mustard
Dutch mustard
In the Zaanse Schans region, traditional windmills still grind mustard seeds using centuries-old techniques. The resulting mustard is sharper and more characterful than French or American versions.
A jar travels well and makes an unusual present for the gourmet in your life. It pairs exceptionally well with Dutch cheeses, sausages, or a traditional stamppot.
Hagelslag
Hagelslag
Peculiarly Dutch, Hagelslag—meaning “hailstorm”—are colorful chocolate sprinkles that are spread on buttered bread. They are eaten for breakfast or lunch by children and adults alike.
It does sound odd, but after trying premium brands such as Venz and De Ruijter, you might well become a convert. A few packs make unusual gifts for anyone you think might want to try something new.
Bicycle Accessories
Bicycle bells
All those bicycles you see in the streets of Amsterdam create a very competitive market for cycling accessories. From clothing and saddle bags to quirky bike bells, you’ll find something unusual to give any cyclist you know, including yourself.
Items you might not see elsewhere include a pocket-sized rechargeable air pump, vintage-style lamps, or wicker-ware baskets. The ultimate buy is an authentic Dutch bicycle, especially an old-fashioned Omafiets or “Granny Bike.”
Windmills
Wooden windmills
It’s a cliché for a reason because what else says “I’ve been to the Netherlands” like a Dutch windmill souvenir? You’ll find them in a full range of prices, from cheap plastic trinkets to hand-crafted wooden models.
The best come from specialized shops at historic windmills such as Kinderdijk or Zaanse Schans. They’ll have working parts and make an unusual Dutch souvenir that will last for many years.
Beer Glasses
Dutch beer drinkers are serious about their glasses, believing the right shape adds to the taste experience. Major breweries such as Heineken or Grolsch have their own branded glasses, while craft breweries also offer their own limited edition glasses.
De Bierkoning Photo by Bernt Rostad on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Search them out in souvenir shops or in De Bierkoning, a specialist beer shop behind Dam Square at Paleisstraat 125. Besides hundreds of unusual craft beers, it has shelves groaning with countless different branded beer glasses.
Vintage Maps
The Dutch cartographic tradition spans centuries, starting with the Golden Age of exploration when its navigators opened up Asia to trade. Maritime charts from the VOC—Dutch East India Company—period combine fascinating detail with wonderful artistic flourishes.
City plans from the 17th and 18th centuries show how Dutch urban planning influenced cities worldwide, particularly in America. While originals are costly collector’s items, quality reproductions have much the same impact and make great wall decorations.
Art Prints
The Dutch Golden Age produced major artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer whose works fill the Rijksmuseum, one of Amsterdam’s best art museums. Its shop has plenty of museum-quality reproductions of masterpieces such as The Night Watch or The Milkmaid.
Rijksmuseum
You’ll also see copies of works by Van Gogh or more contemporary artists in the Rijksmuseum or other galleries. As well as prints, you can find famous artworks on everything from mugs and T-shirts to shopping bags and scarves.
Vintage Travel Items
KLM, the Dutch national airline, was a pioneer in global travel, founded in 1919. Vintage memorabilia from the airline includes everything from travel posters and luggage stickers to actual crew uniforms. You’ll find such items in galleries, flea markets, and antique shops, if you are looking for a genuinely quirky Amsterdam souvenir.
Bottle Scraper
A flessenschraper—bottle scraper—or flessenlikker—bottle licker—is a kitchen tool you will actually use regularly. With typical Dutch frugality, it’s a small scraper designed to get the very last dregs from a bottle or jar.
Although originating in Norway, it reached the Netherlands in the 1950s and is now considered quintessentially Dutch. You’ll find a variety for sale in hardware shops or chain stores such as Hema and Albert Heijn.
Shopping Tips
Kalverstraat
The major shopping streets of Amsterdam are Kalverstraat, which runs south off Dam Square, and Nieuwendijk, which takes you north to the Central Station. The Nine Streets, or De Negen Straatjes, is a canal-lined Amsterdam neighborhood full of great boutique shopping.
PC Hooftstraat and Van Baerlestraat are two upmarket streets near Museumplein, which is home to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. They are the places for luxury shopping, high fashion, and celebrity spotting.
Jordaan District
In the formerly working-class Jordaan District, you’ll find local shops and artisan products. For markets, explore Albert Cuyp—held every day except Sunday—and the Noordermarkt, which specializes in antiques on Saturdays.
Typical shopping hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with shops only opening from noon on Mondays. There is late-night shopping until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and most shops are closed on Sundays or only open from noon to 5 p.m.
If you are not an EU resident, you can claim a VAT refund on purchases over €50. Check with the store when buying.
Amsterdam
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