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Shopper's Paradise
By Rahul viz
Shopping is a local addiction, with countless tiny boutiques serving the Amsterdammers' obsession with living life in perfectly accessorized style. The lovely Prinsengracht canal is a hoarder's paradise - Van Hier tot Tokio is the spot for Japanese antiques, A Space Oddity is a bachelor pad of vintage toys, and Claire V is Jodie Kidd's favorite shop, for girls who can never have too many handbags.
There is ample choice for clothes, one can go to the chic shops which are in the north, on Haarlemmerdijk, and the second-hand style is on Elandsgracht, in the south a fair representation of the direction in which the Jordaan's gentrification is flowing.
Amsterdam is the city of antiques, books, diamonds, and curiosities. In general, shop-opening hours are 1-6pm on Mondays and 9/10am-6pm Tuesday to Friday. Most have late night shopping on Thursday until 9pm and close earlier on Saturdays, at 5pm. Some supermarkets, like Albert Heijn stay open until 8 or 10 pm. On Sundays, one can shop in the city center, Kalverstraat, Damrak, Leidsestraat, and near the Noorderkerk.
Since many roads in the center are closed to cars, it makes for pleasant shopping. One can find busses, trams, taxis and bicycles though, so it will be better to be careful. There are several "shopping corridors" in the city and each one has its own charms and specialties. First off: Nieuwedijk-Kalverstraat, about 1 km full of shops. This pedestrian area, there is no traffic other than a constant stream of tourists, students, scholars, excursionists and locals. The Nieuwedijk is close to Central Station and basically dedicated to clothing, sportswear, music and gift shops with that special Amsterdam vibe.
On the other side of the square the shopping continues which goes on to the Kalverstraat. More shoes, clothing, bags, gift shops, cards, perfume, and the occasional coffee shop, fast food restaurant and ice cream salon. Nearly all mainstream brand names have one or more store on this road. To relax away after hectic shopping one can drink away from all these shops one can make a sidestep onto Spui, where there are many cafes, bars and restaurants and several fast-food chains.
About the Author
Rahul viz recommends that you visit http://www.bookings.nl/city/nl/amsterdam.html?aid=305255 for more information on Shopper's Paradise.
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