Kalverstraat, Amsterdam

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FAME is the biggest CD shop of Amsterdam. All styles, ticket service, books, shirt; you name it.
Many discount items.

2011 Update: The shop will close at the 29 January 2012, but will re-open at the 2nd floor of the Magna Plaza shopping mall one month later!

What to buy: CD's, DVD's and games.

What to pay: From Euro 5 (discounts) to Euro 15 (and more for special items).

Kalverstraat in one of the biggest shopping streets in Amsterdam , with many expensive stores and famous brand names.

The street starts in Dam square and after 700-800 meters ends near Munttoren.

The street is one of the busiest shopping streets in Amsterdam and very crowded.



What to buy: You will find almost anything , from shoes to kids games , from jewelry to books.

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The Kalvertoren is a small mall in Amsterdam's main shopping street, the Kalverstraat.

From the small tower restaurant you have a nice view over the city.

Business hours:
Mo: 11AM - 6.30PM
Tu, We & Fr: 10AM - 6.30PM
Th: 10AM - 9PM
Sa: 10AM - 6PM
Su: 12AM - 6PM

What to buy: The following stores are in the Mall:

America Today
Cheeky
Dockers
Douglas
Dr. Adams
Ego Soft
Eye Wish
Go To
Guess
Hema
Hennes & Mauritz
Hugo Boss
Kookaï
Leonidas
Lipstick Glossy
Mango
Marlboro Classics
Oilily
Original Levi's Store
Quicksilver
Replay Store
Rivièra Maison Country Intériors
Swatch
Timberland
Tommy Hilfiger Denims
V&D Paperworld
Van Leest

We bought butterballs, called Ballistics to do in the bath ! They smell delightful and it is good to relax, breath in, stay there for 20 minutes for the full effect.
You can buy them in all kinds of collours and smells.
Yu can also buy other products, as hand made soaps and bath products, massage bars, hair care, body care, and so many other cosmetic products.
The shop is so interesting and you can smell it from outside ......

What to buy: This is the massage bar I bought : "Wiccy Magic Muscles" . You can use it for aching the muscles.
Have a Wiccy Magic Muscles on hand for all runners, cyclists, aerobics fans, swimmers, gardeners and anyone who's been moving house, lifting heavy boxes or working too long and hard in front of their computer.

Kalverstraat is a pedestrianised high street with all the big name brand stores. I personally don't enjoy shopping here it is crowded and one clothes shop stocks almost the same as the next clothes shop. But having everything in one place does make life easier.

If you need to take a break visit De Pappegaai church Kalverstraat 58.

The two shopping streets Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk are a shoppers paradise. But go during the week if possible, Saturday is insanely busy, it's impossible to enjoy the shops when you're getting pushed and shoved along the street! It's a like a sea of people and you can't but go with the flow. Shops are open sunday 11-5 as well.

Also forget shopping on Damrak and Rokin, there's nothing there but expensive tourist traps. They're normally listed as two main shopping streets as well but I wouldn't bother- I was really dissappointed.

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This isn't just one shop! This is a street full of shops!
At the entry to Kalverstraat there is my favourite music shop "Fame" where you can buy all the Cd's and DvD's that you've ever dreamt of (not exactly true, I wanted to buy some Indian movies but couldn't find many there). What follows is a colorful street full of shops and full of people. Running paralel to Kalverstraat, there is Rokin Street - wider and less crowded with some very posh shops where you can buy (or do the window shopping) very expensive jewellery, watches etc - not for my budget anyway!
At the end of Kalverstraat there is a flower market with impressive tulips, narcissus as well as other kinds of flowers and bulbs.

What to buy: Anything you want.

What to pay: Lots or nothing if you just like window shopping but temptations are very strong here!

Kalverstraat is THE 'straat' to shop!
They have stores like: H&M, Cool Cat/WonderWoman, River Island (beautiful female clothes!!), VeroModa, Only, Apropo, Lush, Levi's, The Body Shop, Bazar (coolest souvenir shop) and different shoe stores, bakery and ofcourse Mcdonalds :-P. And much much more!

Kalverstraat is Amsterdam's main shopping street. It is long and narrow. Very narrow!!
You'll notice that people don't just meander around the street - because of its narrowness, people walk at the sides of the street - like the "links stehen, rechts gehen" tradition in Germany.

What to buy: Many of the top European stores are here, like Esprit, Vero Moda, Waterstones etc

What to pay: As much as you like!

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Kalverstraat is a good place to shop with top names and food on the way, however; it can be overcrowded and very stressful :) But, as long as you're in Amsterdam, just how stressful can it be? Just kidding ;)

One important place is, in case you're left without stg to read in English; this is where the American Book Center is. Although, will you really have time to read that much??

What to buy: Last time I've been there; this huge shop had 2 floors. So, you can basically buy any reading material in English

What to pay: Let's say that I paid 15 Euros for Coelho's Alchemist