Antiques / De Looier, Amsterdam

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30 years ago on our first trip to Amsterdam (and Europe), we found we had enough guilders left and room in our suitcase for a souvenir of our own. We were in the antique shop area (Spiegel Quarter) on Spiegelgracht in a shop with many certificates on the wall. We were presented with a stack of ceramic tiles of the 17C , carefult y wrapped in newspaper and tied with twine. Only the top tile was completely visible (the center one in the picture). It was seductively obvious that it was genuine to our at that time untrained eyes and the proprietor was impeccable. We bought the stack (unopened) assured that they were an authentic set. As the other picture shows, they were all of the same style, but only ONE is figured. (Nobody said they all would be figured). Thirty years later, framed, it is both a bargain and a memory and graces the wall in our kitchen opposite a sink with a tiles splash-board. (See another Shopping Tip on New tiles as Souvenirs).

De Looier is a collection of small shops hidden behind the facede of houses along the Elands- and Lijnbaansgracht. It's set up in the same way as many Paris dealers work: grouping together.

There's an auction house too.

Several people sell antiques and second-hand stuff here....They have around 70 stands.

A nice place to spend some time on a rainy day...

I used to come here as a kid, just to look around...

Open six days a week from 11.00 to 17.00, closed on Fridays.

The Jordaan neighbourhood in Amsterdam is alive with many unusual little shops with a real Amsterdam atmosphere.

This is the Dutch link:
http://www.moving-online.nl/jordaaninfo/content/nl/framesets/winkelen.html
or click here

Flea markets (also called Rommelmarkt or Vlooienmarkt) in the Jordaan:
- on Saturdays and Mondays on 'Noordermarkt' (that's the name of the street)
- Daily: indoor antique market. See http://www.looier.nl/ (English link available)

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Waterlooplein is the perfect place for shopping!
You can find clothes, books, gas masks from 2ndWW, boots, T-shirts and loads of other stuff there and it's all very cheap! Saying that I am a student so you know it's like really cheap.
I bought a great vintage lamp for only 5euros, a big painting for 3euros, T-shirts, albums made of homemade paper and leaves, hat...
Waterlooplein is one of the best things A'dam has to offer, we had such fun there.

What to buy: clogs, funky souvenirs, cheese, pipes...

What to pay: It's really cheap plus you can bargain!

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Came across this magical store in de Jordaan. It sells almost solely Ukuleles! Its inside the De Looier Antiekcentrum.

What to buy: Ukulele or ukelele!

What to pay: They have a big range from beginner to professional

True Love is a small adorable antiques shop, but also a genuine Bed and Breakfast.

I leave it up to you to explore this hidden gem.