Shopping in Amsterdam
It's a fact: as far as shopping is concerned, Amsterdam doesn't measure up to Paris. However, the absence of exclusive fashion houses endows the city with something you could never experience at Place Vendome. Here's a place that doesn't care what you wear while you’re bargain-hunting, disclosing its treasures only to those who stray off the main boulevards.
The city centre of Amsterdam is so small that a shopping trip usually means a very pleasant walk. It's easy to combine sightseeing with it, as the major shopping locations are situated just beside the principal tourist attractions. Many of the central streets are pedestrian areas where the only form of traffic is a never-ending flow of students, locals and tourists.
Art & Antiques
Amsterdam certainly deserves its status of a Mecca for art collectors from all over the world. The small area along the banks of the little Nieuwe Spiegelgracht Canal, north of the Rijksmuseum, is home to an endless multitude of art galleries and antique shops. You can spend hours browsing through old prints, rare books, original Delfware and stylish pieces of home decor.
Jewellery
Amsterdam is a renowned centre of diamond dealing. Reputable jewellery shops are scattered all over the city. For most visitors to Amsterdam, they remain an object of wishful window-shopping, but they're definitely worthy stopping by for free guided tours explaining the process of cutting and polishing precious stones. The most popular locations are:
*Amsterdam Diamond Center
*Coster Diamonds
*Van Moppes Diamonds
Fashion
The Dutch capital might not be a fashion centre of global importance, but it remains an attractive destination for fans of designer clothes and accessories. The city is home to several locations that a true fashion fan simply can't miss.
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