The Amsterdam Markets Guide – Shop like you mean it!
Shopping is always fun, but what’s the point of
traveling to a different/new city if you are only going to enter an enclosed air-conditioned
shopping mall which might as well be anywhere else on the planet? Same brands,
same goods, perhaps different prices but don’t tell me you traveled all the way
to Amsterdam just to try and save a few bucks/euros on that
enter_generic_brand_here coat or pair of
pants? No, no, no…if you made it to Amsterdam and want to do some shopping –
you really ought to check out the city markets. Not only are they all unique,
but there’s quite a few around the city offering everything from food and
clothes to electronics, souvenirs, art and second hand goods. And they really
are in Amsterdam – you can see it, you can feel it, and you can even smell it
in the air.
Amsterdam has a
lively market culture that dates back to the early 18th century and
still stands strong. Today, Amsterdam has 12 daily outdoor markets and even
more of those that open one or two days of the week. They are usually open
during normal shopping hours, come rain come shine, so you can shop to your
heart’s content…or at least until heavy rain starts and you run into the nearby
café to sit it out and enjoy a drink in the meantime.
Open air markets
really are one of the best ways to soak up the local culture and do some
quality shopping at the same time. And be sure that whatever it is you are
looking for – you will find it at one of the markets in Amsterdam. Most markets
in the city specialize in a particular type of goods but there are a few that
sell literally everything such as the city’s biggest and busiest
Albert Cuypmarkt, or the famous
Waterlooplein flea market. Both provide a sensory-overload experience
and offer everything from clothes, electronics, jewelry, cosmetics, shoes,
bikes and bike accessories to books, CDs and DVDs, souvenirs and art. The main
difference is that the Albert Cuypmarkt also offers fresh produce, fish and
meats, cheese, flowers and plants, while Waterlooplein offers a lot of second hand
goods and bric a brac of all kinds at dirt-cheap prices. Also, bargaining is
expected at Waterlooplein but frowned upon at Albert Cuyp.
For an explosion
of colors and the best fresh produce as well as other foods, head to one of the
farmers’ markets such as the
Noordmarkt
organic farmer’s market or
Marqt
which also offers fresh baked goods and good French wines. There’s produce and
food at other markets too but none can compare to Noordmarket or Marqt if fresh
and bio/eco/organic food is what you are after.
If clothes and
general goods is what you’re after then head to
Westerstraat where you’ll find good brands at decent prices or
go to
Dappermarkt known for the lowest prices in town.
Antiekmarkt
is one of the few covered markets
in town and it offers the best selection of antiques. To find art head to
Art Plein Spui, a small art market that offers original prints and mostly
small paintings.
Booklovers will fall in love with
Boekenmarkt, a
very popular book market located in a covered passageway in the city center
offering a great selection of books, prints and sheet music.
Postzegelmarkt
is the market of choice for collectors looking to find unique
stamps, coins, old postcards and commemorative medals.
Finally, whether
you’re into flowers or not, you should at least drop by the
Bloemenmarkt and see not only what
makes the Netherlands famous for its flowers, but also see this unique,
one-of-a-kind floating flower market and one of Amsterdam’s most colorful
attractions.
Below is a list
of above-mentioned markets with details about their location and tips on how to
get there. So – Good luck, and good shopping!
Albert Cuypmarkt
Amsterdam’s biggest and busiest market.
Specializes in: General goods, food, exotic herbs and spices.
Location: Albert Cuypstraat/Ferdinand Bolstraat, 1072 LL
How to get there: stop Albert Cuypstraat: Tram 16, 20, 24 and 25.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday 9.30 am – 5 pm.
Antiekmarkt
Amsterdam
Antiques
and curiosities market (a covered market).
Specializes
in: furniture, jewelry, silverware and collectables.
Location:
Elandsgracht 109, 1016 TT
How to
get there: stop Elandsgracht: Tram 7, 10, 17 and 20.
Opening
times: Monday – Friday 11 am. – 6 pm (closed on Tuesday); Weekends 10 am. – 5 pm.
Art Plein
Spui
Art
market.
Specializes
in: Original prints, small oil paintings.
Location:
Spui Plein, 1012 WZ
How to
get there: stop Spui: Tram 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 16, 17, 24 and 25.
Opening
times: Sunday 10 am. – 5 pm. Closed during winter.
Bloemenmarkt – Flower Market
The
only floating flower market in the world…so far.
Specializes
in: Flowers, seeds, bulbs and rare flowers.
Location:
Singel, 1071 AZ
How to
get there: stop Muntplein: Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 and 25.
Opening
times: Monday – Saturday 9.30 am – 5 pm.
Boekenmarkt – Book Market
A popular
book market.
Specializes
in: Books, cards, maps, engravings.
Location:
Oudemanhuispoort
How to
get there: stop Muntplein: Tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 and 25.
Opening
times: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm.
Farmer’s Market, Noordermarkt – Boerenmarkt
The
most popular Amsterdam market at the moment. Offers bio food, fresh fruits,
cheese and cakes, snacks.
Specializes
in: Mushrooms, bio food, cheese, fresh fish and herbs.
Location:
Noordermarkt, 1015 MV
How to
get there: stop Westermarkt: Tram 13 and 17 or stop Marnixbad: Tram 3 and 10.
Opening
times: Saturday 9 am – 3 pm.
Dappermarkt
Amsterdam’s
cheapest market.
Specializes
in: Clothes, food, general goods.
Location:
Dapperstraat, 1093 BK
How to
get there: stop Eerste van Swindenstraat: Tram 9 and 14.
Opening
times: Monday – Saturday 9 am – 4 pm.
Marqt – The
Farmers Market
Fresh
fish, cheese from local farmers, traditionally baked bread, fresh fruits, good
local vegetables and French wines at reasonable prizes.
Specializes
in: Fresh produce, food and drinks.
Location:
Overtoom 21-25, 1054 HD
How to
get there: stop Leidseplein: Tram 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 or stop Overtoom: Tram 3
and 12, also Bus: 142, 144, 145, 170, 172, 197.
Opening
times: 11 am – 5 pm. Closed on Fridays.
Read our article on Marqt by clicking here.
Postzegelmarkt
Collector’s
market.
Specializes
in: Stamps, coins, old postcards, commemorative medals.
Location:
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 280, 1012 RL
How to
get there: stop Het Spui: Tram 1, 2, 5, 13, 17 and 20.
Opening
times: Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm.
Waterlooplein Flea Market
Huge flea
market full of curiosities, general goods, second-hand clothing, CDs, DVDs,
appliances and other new and used goods.
Specializes
in: Second-hand goods, general goods, curiosities.
Location:
Waterlooplein, 1011 PG
How to
get there: stop Waterlooplein: Tram 9 and 14 or Metro 51, 53 and 54.
Opening
times: Monday – Friday 9 am – 5.30 pm; Saturdays: 8.30 am –5.30 pm.
Westerstraat market
Best
market for clothes and small objects.
Specializes
in: Clothes and shoes (often by big names in fashion), small objects, general
goods, textiles.
Location:
Westerstraat, 1015 ML
How to
get there: stop Marnixbad: Tram 3 and 10.
Opening
times: Monday 9.00 am – 13.00 pm.
