The Best Places to Shop on Amsterdam's Nine Streets

If you’re in the market for rare, second-hand or limited edition vinyl, it’s definitely worth stopping by Waxwell Records. A mainstay of Amsterdam’s vinyl scene, the store stocks an impressive variety of records ranging from old-school Dutch hip hop EPs to classic rock albums, which are presented inside boxes and sleeves spread throughout its showroom. As it is geared towards diehard record collectors and DJs, expect high-quality merchandise inside.

This Amsterdam-based lifestyle brand with a heart of gold donates a significant portion of its profits to charitable projects around the globe that help people access clean water. Marie-Stella-Maris’ collection mainly centres around high-end skincare products, infused with the brand’s signature fragrances, but includes other luxury items, such as scent diffusers and photography books, too. Marie-Stella-Maris also sells mineral water in glass bottles, sourced from Western Germany, that’s particularly popular among Amsterdammers.

This cavernous vintage clothing store spreads its collection over two floors, which are separated by a small mezzanine level devoted to eyewear, hats and other accessories. Zipper keeps a close eye on trends and regularly updates its collections with new, albeit second-hand, items that are currently in vogue. Although its collection changes with the seasons, Zipper tends to keep certain evergreen items in stock year round, including military jackets, 501 Levi’s and branded sweaters.

Tailored around outdoorsy types who prefer quality clothing over fast fashion, this boutique menswear store stocks items that are designed to endure years of wear-and-tear. Its collection always includes rugged, vintage classics, such as flannel shirts and heavy jeans, plus a variety of preppy items like varsity jackets or high-top sneakers. Concrete Matter sells high-quality grooming products, tools and collectables as well, ranging from pomade hair wax to pewter hip flasks.

Catering to game freaks young and old, this delightful specialist store is crammed full of tabletop classics. Stocking everything from Pokemon cards to Settlers of Catan expansion packs, the Gamekeeper’s vast collection includes basically every noteworthy tabletop game released over the past four decades. As the store also sells high-quality toys and other knick-knacks aimed at kids, it is a great place to pick up gifts for younger family members.

A specialist bookstore aimed at discerning bibliophiles, MENDO stocks a curated selection of publications that represent the crème de la crème of design, art, travel and cooking literature. The store’s shelves are actually made from books, with thousands of black hardbacks that have been fused into display cases. Needless to say, MENDO has a unique appearance that matches perfectly with its overall approach to bookselling. MENDO also serves as a publishing house and often creates books in collaboration with photographers, designers and artists from the Netherlands.

There’s a whole host of Instagram-worthy accessories available inside this ready-to-wear jewellery store, which has items that are designed and made in-house. Aside from selling handmade bracelets, earrings and necklaces, Beadies serves as an arts-and-crafts hotspot, stocking dozens of different beads, chains and pendants that customers can buy in order to make their own jewellery. The team at Beadies also takes commissions and can turn trinkets like crucifixes, charms or lockets into custom-made jewellery, on request.

One of Amsterdam’s most reputable contemporary brands, Ace & Tate offers customers the chance to buy designer prescription eyewear at affordable prices. Inspired by vintage and modern fashion in equal measures, their frames are always ahead of trends and made from durable materials, mainly sourced in Italy. Ace & Tate sells these stylish, long-lasting sunnies and glasses at remarkably low prices, with most of its frames costing €98 with prescription lenses.

Known for its extensive collection of on-point vintage clothing, Episode ranks among the best places in the city to scour for second-hand threads. The store always keeps heaps of branded clothing (that’s usually in pretty good knick) in stock and generally has a decent selection of Doc Martens boots, Adidas sweaters and Lacoste polos crammed on its shelves. Though it looks a little jumbled together, the store is actually pretty easy to navigate and has an intuitive layout that’s divided into sections dedicated to specific items of clothing.

With wheels of cheese stacked from floor to ceiling, this charming fromagerie looks as though it was plucked straight from a postcard of the Netherlands. Aside from its impressive assortment of gouda and edam, de Kaaskamer also sells many speciality cheeses that are rather difficult to find outside the Netherlands. Like all good cheese stores, de Kaaskamer lets customers try before they buy, allowing them to sample whichever wheel takes their fancy.