From the Central Station into town and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Off The Beaten Path Tips

THE AMSTERDAM RECORD TRAIL:

If you missed the intro, I like to take you on a walk along Amsterdam's second hand record shops. This is becoming harder as these shops more and more move outwards in search of cheap rental spaces.

From the Central Train Station we walk to the South but before entering the DAMRAK we go a liitle to the right into the HASSELAERSTEEG (right next to the Victoria Hotel). Unfortunately PLATENKONING, a shop with modern record stuff and games is gone (now only at the Internet). At the end of the alley we sadly pass the location where Boudisque used to be (Haringpakkerssteeg 10). The landmark signs are still there, but the empty story and the "for rent" sign tell it all.

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Website: http://www.platenkoning.com

This page became the saddest one in my record shop tour. Not only did Boudisque go out of busniess; Blue Note, Brutus and Virgin records are all gone now.

Find your way through the ever busy NIEUWEN DIJK, but don't follow this street up towards the DAM Square; take a right into the GRAVEN STRAAT. There BLUE NOTE, a Jazz-CD's-only shop was located.

I you are only interested in CD's you could go back to the NIEUWENDIJK and criss the DAM square to visit FAME.

A new trance shop, Rush Hour Records is located at Spuistraat 98. Only modern Hip Hop, Trance & Dance, but for some of you it might be interesting.

I'll continue with the record shop trail.

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Phone: +31-20-4281029

Cross the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and head for the Prinsengracht.

Forget about BRUTUS that used to be at MOLSTEEG 8.

We go west perpendicular to the canals via either the LELIEGRACHT or HERENSTRAAT/PRINSENSTRAAT to the PRINSENGRACHT west-side and take a right to the WESTERSTRAAT.
Sometimes there is market here and in the weekends there is enough to enjoy. Now enter NOORDERKERKSTRAAT where you'll find FLESCH at nr. 16. It's a nice little book & record shop. Please meet the owner Harry and say hello from me. 2008 Update: The shop had a clean-up and a part of the old collections now is on sale on the stand of the owner's wife Jonica at the Noordermarkt market.

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Phone: 31-20-6228185
Website: Quote of the owner: "Over my dead body"

From here I used to take the PRINSENGRACHT to Dazzit, but the place is out of business.

So we head up into the Jordaan into the WESTERSTRAAT. DISTORTION RECORDS moved from nr. 72 to nr. 244. Now find your way East to BACK BEAT RECORDS at the EGELANTIERSTRAAT 19; check it out for its CD- & vinyl collection. It's a small shop, but cramped with "black" and jazz albums. There also magazines for sale. A little further is WENTELWERELD at 1e BLOEMDWARSSTRAAT 13A. Proceed to the ROZENGRACHT.

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Phone: +31-20-6221195

A small sidestep South to the former Plaatboef at ROZENGRACHT 40; nowadays it's called VELVET MUSIC.

Return to the PRINSENGRACHT. You will see the Anne Frank House across the canal and De Westerkerk in the rear. Proceed East towards the Leidsestraat.

There's one more store at the Prinsengracht: SECOND LIFE MUSIC at Prinsengracht 366 (South-side). This shop stock is ever increasing and it's a true paradise to make a discovery, but I warn you you for the chaotic order of items.

Note: Sound of the Fifties at Prinsengracht 668 (North-side) closed in 2006; too bad! Another shop, Record Mania moved from the Hartenstraat 9 to the Ferdinand Bolstraat 30.

A new store WAXWELL RECORDS started at the Gasthuismolensteeg 22 (one of the nine little streets); this is the former KIDS LOVE WAX. They specialize in Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Raggae, Disco and Jazz.

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Phone: +31-20-6239745

A note: If you are looking for RECORD MANIA, that used to be in the Jordaan area at Hartenstraat 9, you have to go to the Ferdinand Bolstraat 30 instead (Beyond Heineken Experience).

Now go South (I prefer via the PRINSENGRACHT) and go right on LEIDSE STRAAT (watch out for the public transportation). At the LEIDSEPLEIN there will be lots of shows in the weekends, so enjoy. Go to the east via GARTMAN PLANTSOEN and enter WETERING SCHANS. Almost opposite Paradiso you will find RECORD PALACE at nr. 33. Here the goodies are located in the basement. Say hallo to owner Jan van Dorsten.

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Phone: +31-20-6223904
Website: http://www.record-palace.com/home.html

Go back North via the AMSTELVELD (for the men there is a public toilet, the so-called KRUL). Go left into the UTRECHTSE STRAAT, where you'll find CONCERTO at nrs. 52 to 60. It's one of the oldest and most reliable record stores in town. They still have records (also buying them), but for hard to find CD's this is the place. Opposite at nr. 105 you find GET RECORDS.

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Phone: +31-20-6235228
Website: http://www.concerto.nu/

Go North to the REMBRANDT PLEIN; through the HALVE MAAN STEEG to the AMSTEL river. At Amstel 100 you'll find AMSTEL ANTIQUES, a shop half filled with records.

Goto the East and cross the river via the BLAUWBRUG. Go along the city hall (STOPERA) to the WATERLOOPLEIN market.

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On the east side of the market you find different things per day. At the west side and at the waterside there are more regular dealers (like Ron).

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Website: http://www.dutchmarkets.org/markten/amsterdam

Note: Staalplaat at Staalkade 6 is out of business.

From the Waterlooplein market go East along the Zwanenburgwal and take a left into the SINT ANTONIESBREESTRAAT (direction Nieuwmarkt).

One more records shop to conclude is RECORD FRIEND Grammofoonplaten at the Sint Antoniesbreestraat 64. It's in a hidden basement, but with a nice collection of records and grammophone gear and maintenace equipment.

Maybe a visit to MUZIKAT at the SINT ANTONIESBREESTRAAT 3 is a good finish of this trip, but it really is up to you. There are more record shops in Amsterdam outside the the center. I leave it up to you to find them. I'm sure you have spent already too much.

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Phone: 06-51643022
Website: http://winkel.recordfriend.com/