A Shopping Guide To De Negen Straatjes

Fashion in Amsterdam revolves around de Negen Straatjes. This photogenic neighborhood covers Amsterdam‘s western canal ring and is within walking distance from Dam Square. Shopping in De Negen Straatjes is an absolute breeze and the area is renowned for its peaceful ambience, world leading stores and beautiful architecture.
De Negen Straatjes has a unique boutique economy and in recent years has attracted troves of world leading designers. Many of its quaint townhouses have been transformed into intimate showrooms where local courtiers display their handcrafted wares. These small studios often stock clothing that can only be found inside of Amsterdam and most are eager to promote promising Dutch talent. Although there are countless boutiques inside de Negen Straatjes, The Darling and Anecdote are probably the best places to pick up local designs.

The Darling stocks its own line of branded clothing that keeps to simple cuts and sharp colors. The store also sells beautifully crafted accessories that are always on-trend. The team behind The Darling believe that shopping should be a relaxed experience and their showroom is purposely designed to encourage leisurely browsing.

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Anecdote is a more established brand that is helmed by the Dutch designer Jetteke van der Wyck – van Beuningen. For a relatively new company it already has an impressive back catalogue and continues to create outstanding womenswear. The boutique is particularly renowned for its modern take on formal wear that includes a zig-zag printed suit and knee-length dress shirts.

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These smaller enterprises are surrounded by international brand stores. Francisco van Benthum, Fred Perry and Denham all have regional showrooms inside the neighborhood, while Van Ravenstein has a large studio that overlooks Keizergracht canal. This fashion intuitive buys its clothing directly from the catwalk and collects designs created by up-and-coming European haute courtiers. Its stock is exceptionally modern and fairly priced.

There are some real bargains on offer in De Negen’s Straatjes’ vintage stores and second-hand clothing hunters should definitely stop by Episode and Zipper, as both stores contain heaps of discounted treasures. Zipper keeps an amazing collection of winter coats in its cellar, while upstairs its shoppers can rummage through hundreds of brightly colored shirts and sweaters.

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Episode is significantly larger than Zipper and clearly has a discerning eye for trends. Its showroom is filled with branded, exclusive items that its staff have carefully selected and priced. Episode is the best place in Amsterdam to pick up second-hand shoes and it also usually has a large selection of Doc Martens.

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For fully restored clothing head over to I Love Vintage. This boutique buys large parts of its stock from designers that are inspired by 20th century fashion trends, and sells classy, elegant outfits that can be worn as work or evening wear. Its collection is relatively affordable and the boutique is part of a beautiful waterside townhouse.

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