Amsterdam Shopping Tips by Jarin

Furniture: Villa ArenA Furniture Review

It is with its 75.000 m2 and more than 80 home furnishing and interior decoration stores the largest ‘shopping mall’ (for furnishing and interior decoration) in Europe. The stores are spread over 4 floors and the mall is open everyday except on Sunday’s (with some exceptions).
It has own parking lot (for 2.500 cars) and is also easily accessible by public transport.

What to pay: Every amount - it is up to you.

Directions: Opposite the Amsterdam ArenA.
From Central Station you take metro 54, direction GEIN, and you get out at Bijlmer station.

Phone: 0800-8455227

Theme: Home Furnishing

Website: http://www.villaarena.nl/

Kalverstraat: Busiest shopping street of Amsterdam Kalverstraat Review

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.

Directions: Centre

Theme: Other

Magna Plaza: Shopping Mall Magna Plaza Magna Plaza Review

This is the first shopping mall in Amsterdam (opened in 1992).
It was originally a head post office building. This original post office was built on this spot in 1748. It was closed in 1854, demolished, and then in 1899 architect C.P. Peters built in Neo Gothic style the building you see today.
There are abt 40 shops with restaurants spread out over four floors.
Magna Plaza is a high quality shopping mall open 7 days a week.

What to buy: There is a mix of all kind products from jewellery to interior decoration, from casual to classic clothing, from children's clothing to educational toys.

What to pay: More than avarage

Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182

Directions: Behind the Royal Palace (city centre)

Phone: Magna Plaza office +3120626 9199

Theme: Department Store

Website: http://www.magnaplaza.nl/

Department stores: De Bijenkorf Department stores Review

Is one of the first department stores in Amsterdam. The name de Bijenkorf started to be used in 1892, but originally there was already a shop in 1870 in Amsterdam. The present location dates from abt. 1910. After several years de Bijenkorf opens his 2nd department store in Den Haag (the Hague). Today there are 13 Bijenkorf department stores in the Netherlands.
It is a luxurious department store with all kind fashionable and exclusive articles. They are since 1953 a member of the Association Commerciale Internationale, a club of leading department stores, where just one member per country is accepted: for France is that Galeries Lafayette and for Engeland John Lewis.

What to buy: Anything from cosmetics, toys, cd/DVD, books, Women's/men's/children's garments/clothing (brands and also without a brand), to shoes, socks etc. But also furniture and lamps. Everything what you can expect in this kind of department store.

What to pay: As it is a better/luxurious department store in general you can expect higher prices than avarage.

Address: Dam 1 - 1012 JS Amsterdam

Directions: In the city centre with indoor large parking place/house.

Phone: +31 (0)20-5521700

Theme: Department Store