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.
Related Travel Information
Getting to Amsterdam
Many of the world's airlines fly directly to Amsterdam, but it might be cheaper for you to fly to a nearby city such as London and get to Amsterdam by bus or train. Many airlines will offer you a free side trip within Europe, so ask around and see what offers are available.
Amsterdam is well connected to the rest of Europe, including Britain, by long-distance bus. Buses are consistently cheaper than trains, but on some services you'll get a lungful of cigarette smoke. Amsterdam's main train station is Centraal, which has regular and efficient connections throughout the country
Amsterdam: Netherlands
Festivals in Amsterdam
*January, if canals are frozen, 'Eleven Cities Journey' skating marathon.
mid March, Blues Festival, 2 days.
*April, Orange [Queens] Day, is the city's biggest street party. May, 2nd Sat, Windmill day end of May, Drum Rythm Festival [indoors]
*June, Holland Festival [varied arts]
mid July, North Sea Jazz Festival [w/e]
Sept, 1st Sat, Flower Parades
Nov, 2nd or 3rd Sat, Sinterklaas Parade
Nov, Cannabis Cup competition
Cuisine in Amsterdam
There is a huge range of restaurants and cafes for every travelller's taste and budget in Amsterdam. The best weird experience is the Indonesian 'rijestafel' [rice table] speciality; Indrapura, Kantjil and de Tijger are highly recommended.
The hippest
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam was build in the 17th century as the new city hall of Amsterdam. After the signing of the peace treaty of Munster in 1648, Amsterdam started to execute its ambitious plan for a new city hall. The city council chose Jacob van Campen's design for a large and impressive building. The power and wealth of the city of Amsterdam in the recently established Republic of the Netherlands are reflected in the building and its interior design. These ideals have been portrayed in the sculptures by Artus Quellien and in the paintings by e.g. Govert
Belgium Overview
It happens time after time. People understand Europe the way they’ve been introduced to it - The usual tourist meccas, the attractions on a thousand postcards. Then they remember Belgium, the little country, they passed through a few days ago. It seems beautiful, it’s practically next door to Paris, London and Amsterdam, and they have 24 hours to explore it before heading home. Two hours later, they are in love with Belgium.
Baroque architecture and a street named Meat & Bread; an exhibit of comic strips; and jazz until dawn — you could only be in Brussels. Don’t miss the
