Shopping A-Z

Here is a selection of interesting Amsterdam stores, some of which you might not otherwise have found. Use this list to save you time and trouble with your shopping list, or simply to locate interesting stores.

Art -- Galleries abound in Amsterdam, particularly in the canal area near the Rijksmuseum, and their exhibitions prove that Dutch painters are as prolific in the 21st century as they were in the Golden Age. The VVV Tourist Information Office publication Amsterdam Day by Day is your best guide to who's showing what, and where; your own sense of value will be the best guide to artistic and investment merit.

Posters and reproductions of famous artworks are an excellent item to buy in Amsterdam. The Dutch are known for their high-quality printing and color-reproduction work, and one of their favorite subjects is Holland's rich artistic treasure trove. Choose any of the three major art museums listed below as a starting point.

If you like modern art -- from the Impressionists onward -- you'll be particularly delighted by the selection at the Stedelijk Museum CS, currently housed at Oosterdokskade 5 (tel. 020/573-2911; tram: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24, 25, or 26). For van Gogh prints, the van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 13 (tel. 020/570-5200; tram: 2, 3, 5, or 12), is an excellent good source for reproductions. At Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Jodenbreestraat 4 (tel. 020/624-9486; tram: 9 or 14), you can buy a mounted Rembrandt etching for 15€ to 20€ ($19-$25); it's not an original, of course, but it is an individually produced high-quality modern printing done by hand in the traditional manner. For something simpler (and cheaper) to remind you of the great master, Het Rembrandthuis also sells mass-printed reproductions of the etchings and small packets of postcard-size reproductions in sepia or black and white on a thick, fine-quality paper stock.

Cigars, Pipes & Smoking Articles -- Holland is one of the world's predominant cigar-producing centers. Serious smokers know that Dutch cigars are different, and drier, than Cuban or American smokes. It's partly because of the Indonesian tobacco and partly because of how the cigar's made. Whatever the reason, Dutch cigars can be a pleasant change for American tobacco enthusiasts.

Diamonds -- These reputable stores offer guided diamond-cutting and polishing tours for free, and sales of the finished product: Amsterdam Diamond Center, Rokin 1-5 (tel. 020/624-5787; www.amsterdamdiamoncenter.com; tram: 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, or 25), at the Dam; Coster Diamonds, Paulus Potterstraat 2-8 (tel. 020/305-5555; www.costerdiamonds.com; tram: 2 or 5), at the Rijksmuseum; Gassan Diamonds, Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 173-175 (tel. 020/622-5333; www.gassandiamonds.com; Metro: Nieuwmarkt), at Oudeschans; Stoeltie Diamonds, Wagenstraat 13-17 (tel. 020/623-7601; www.stoeltiediamonds.com; tram 4, 9, or 14), at Rembrandtplein; and Van Moppes Diamonds, Albert Cuypstraat 2-6 (tel. 020/676-1242; www.moppesdiamonds.com; tram 16, 24, or 25), at Ruysdaelkade.

Fashions -- Paris may set the styles, but young Dutch women -- and some of their mothers -- often know better than the French how to make them work. Whatever the current European fashion rage is, you can expect to see it in store windows all over Amsterdam, and in all price ranges. Some boutique faithfuls claim that they buy Paris designer fashions in Amsterdam at lower-than-Paris prices, but a quick check shows that designer wear is expensive here too. It's fun to ferret out the new, young crop of Dutch designers who regularly open stores in unpredictable locations all over town. Boutiques and their designers change rapidly with the fashion tides; this list includes the current top names.

Night Owls -- A local avondwinkel (evening store) is a resource not to be ignored for keeping you stocked with after-hours munchies. Suppose you feel like an evening in your hotel, and you either don't fancy the room-service menu or your hotel doesn't provide one. Not to worry: There's bound to be an evening store close to the hotel (ask the front desk). Many can prepare take-out meals to about the same standard as you would find in a typical Dutch eetcafé, for 10% to 20% less than restaurant prices. Hours are usually from 5 to 11pm or midnight.

Kids -- Some museum gift stores are good sources for toys and other children's knickknacks. Try the stores at the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum), Kattenburgerplein 1 (tel. 020/523-2222; bus 22, 42 or 43), for model ships and nautical paraphernalia; the Theatermuseum, Herengracht 168 (tel. 020/551-3300; tram: 13, 14, or 17), for masks, costumes, and minitheaters; NEMO, Oosterdokskade 2 (tel. 0900/919-1100; bus 22), for scientific and educational toys and gadgets; and both the Tropenmuseum, Linnaeusstraat 2 (tel. 020/568-8215; tram: 7, 9, 10, or 14), and Artis Zoo, Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 (tel. 020/523-3400; tram: 9 or 14), for model animals and eco-stuff.

Sex -- Amsterdam's free and easy -- you could even say laid-back -- attitude to the mysteries of the flesh has spawned a vast range of stores devoted to satisfying customers' needs, whether real or pure fantasy. Many of these stores are down-and-dirty, sleazeball kinds of places, but not all.