Kalverstraat, Amsterdam

The street dates from end of 14th century and was originally an old highway. Farmers drove their cattle along the road to a market at the Dam. Eventually the cattle market outgrew the Dam and was moved to the highway, which was renamed "Kalverstraat," or "Street of Calves".
Now it is Amsterdam's busiest shopping street with many shops, boutiques and department stores offering a variety of goods and food. Since September 1997 it has a modern shopping mall - De Kalvertoren. Cafe on the top of the tower has one of the best views in Amsterdam.

What to pay: It is up to you, from abt. EUR 5.- for some present to hundreds or even thousands of Euros for clothing or Jewellery.

The main shopping street in Amsterdam is called Kalverstraat. It starts at Dam Square and continues for miles. You'll find all sorts of shops here, ranging from department stores to boutiques. Whatever you want, you can get it here. A pair of Levi's? The new Michael Jackson album? A nice Rolex? And there are also loads of places to eat here. But don't expect anything too fancy.

Oh and expect crowds.

From the Dam-square a street is running away just right from the Royal Palace. This is the Kalverstreet and it is completely pedestrian area. Left and right there are various shops and it is always busy here. However, buying anything in Amsterdam is often also being a thief from your own wallet. Prices here are often 150% from other towns and especially the countryside. Okay, the productrange may be wider here and certain fashion is discounted a lot.

By the way, shoppingevenings are in The Netherlands for larger towns on Thursdays ad the rest on Fridays.

Kalverstraat is the longest shopping street in Amsterdam. It starts at Dam sqaure and goes all the way to Muntplein. Although its not my favourite shopping street I always start here when shopping. There are so many shops it's terrible ;-) My favorites are Esprit and Mexx, as well as many others. If you turn right at Heiligeweg, you'll find some more exclusive shops, and even more when you continue on Leidsestraat, which will lead you to Leidseplein.
Avoid the street like the plague on Saturday and Sunday. The street is so crowded, it's not much fun then. I prefer shopping on Tuesday morning, when there is hardly anyone.

If you’re in the mood for a little shopping visit the Kalverstraat, an outdoor shopping center/street about ten blocks long.

What to buy: Here you’ll find everything from the latest fashionable shoes to toothpaste and more. The people-watching alone is worth the visit.

This bookstore claims to be the finest English speaking or at least American bookstore in Europe. Having travels throughtout Europe, I have to agree with that claim. There are more titles available here than any other bookstore that I have dropped into in Europe. If you forgot to bring along a book to read while either staying in Amsterdam or to keep you company while traveling through Europe, well then this is a place to go.

What to buy: Books. A wide variety of title available. It is particularly strong in non-fiction books especially history.

For me as a shopping addict Kalverstraat is heaven on earth!
Loads of nice shops, including Waterstones (english bookshop) and my favourite shop for bath bombs and soaps, called Lush. Try their fantastic bathbombs -- extremely lovely!

What to buy: Shoes, Bath Bombs, English Books, Ice cream .. everything!

What to pay: Less than in Germany normally

Traditionally, shops and markets are closed all day Sunday and Monday mornings. Normal shopping hours are 09:00 or 10:00 to 18:00 (17:00 on Saturday) although some are now beginning to stay open later in the evenings and about half of the shops on the main shopping streets are even open on Sundays. There is late-night shopping on Thursdays until 21:00, when most shops on the main streets are open.

The main shopping areas are the Leidsestraat between the Leidseplein and Spui, and the Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, leading from the Munt Tower via the Dam to near the Central Station. There are large stores near the Munt Tower (V&D and Hema), and at the Dam (Bijenkorf and Magna Plaza). There is a large supermarket behind the Palace at the Dam, open until 22:00, even Sundays.

The Jordaan and the streets around it contain many small interesting individual shops. The PC Hooftstraat and district, near the museums, contains many of the more chic shops.

There is an interesting daily clothes and second-hand market around the City Hall and Opera (trams 9, 14, 51 to Waterlooplein there is a busy cosmopolitan food and clothes market in the Albert Cuypstraat (trams 4, 6, 10 and 16. The flower market on the Singel (between the top of the Leidsestraat and the Munt Tower) is not to be missed (trams 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 14, 16, 24, 25.

Buying food in supermarkets is straightforward, with one exception: buy the milk in blue cartons. The red cartons are buttermilk (karnemelk), which is probably not what you want.

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WAAR is a gift shop for durable biologic and ecologic products.

Business hours:
Mo: 0.30PM - PM
Tu-We: 10AM - 6PM
Th: 10AM - 9PM
Fr-Sa: 10AM - 6PM

What to buy: A gift.

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2TheLoo is a shop with everything you need for your smallest room in the house; yes, the toilet. It opened February 17, 2011.

One big advantage: You may visit the loo in this shop.