Shopping in Netherlands - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

The Netherlands has huge opportunities for shopping. Mainly, shopping centers are concentrated in the capital and the main tourist city, Amsterdam. However, in other cities, you can find something unique at flea markets or branded boutiques. Amsterdam is known for its shopping arcades and centers, as well as shops with antique items. Here, you can buy high-quality shoes, amazing jewelry, and exclusive erotic underwear. The shopping center in Amsterdam is a district of 9 streets. It starts next to the central square, Dam.

Shops in the Netherlands usually open at 9-9.15 in the morning and work up to 6 pm. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that on Monday they will not open until noon. The Dutch give themselves a treat to rest on weekends, and therefore they almost never work early in the morning on Monday; there are exceptions although. On Sunday, the stores are closed too. On Thursday, most stores extend their working day until 9 pm. In numerous shops, you can find an exclusive branded item lying beside a vintage second hand stuff.

Like in other European countries, people in the Netherlands are very fond of sales. There are 2 sale seasons, which are summer and winter. Summer sales start in July, and winter sales start in January, after Christmas holidays. The discounts are provided for about a month. At this time, shopkeepers hang tables that display words Sale, Uitverkoop, and Opruiming, which in Dutch means 'sale'. Some individual stores continue to please customers in August and February. Discounts can reach 50-70 percent. At this time, streets that are already crowded, are packed with tourists. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The central department store of Amsterdam is located on the main Dam Square. The shop works from 8 am to 8 pm and offers tourists to buy absolutely anything. However, most of departments sell branded clothes like Gucci, Hermes, etc. Fans of gadgets will find the Apple store there. Close to the department store, there is Magna Plaza that is another major shopping center with the impeccable architecture in the Neo-Gothic style. There you can find clothes of more democratic brands, such as D&G, Valentino, etc. There is a cafe on the sixth floor with incredibly picturesque views and stunning collections of glass and dishes.

The real paradise for a shopaholic in Amsterdam is the district of 9 streets. In total, there are more than 230 different shops and boutiques, as well as bars, cafes, and restaurants. Here, you can find a boutique of almost any designer of the Netherlands or Belgium. Sometimes, owners serve visitors themselves; they can offer a discount for any outfit. You can buy bright, stylish and unique clothes, including T-shirts of hemp, which are wonderful souvenirs to commemorate the journey. Fans of inexpensive shopping should go to Kalverstraat street. There are more than a hundred stores with clothes, footwear, and accessories of budget brands.

It's worth to visit the floating flower market, because the Netherlands is famous for it above all. Tulip bulbs can be brought from the trip as gifts. Here, you can buy other souvenirs, as prices for them in the markets are much lower than in stores. At Coster Diamonds factory, you can buy relatively inexpensive, exclusive jewelry of the highest quality. Of course, do not forget about the cheese, as this is the main claim to fame of the country. You can buy it in any store or market.

There are few outlet outlets in the Netherlands. The only major outlet is 150 km from Amsterdam, in Roermond. However, it is one of the largest in Europe. There are more than 200 brand stores in it; discounts for specific items can reach 90%. It is noteworthy that Designer Outlet Roermond is built on the site of the former army barracks and represents a whole town in the city. There, you can find the following brands: Levi.s, Adidas, Burberry, and Gucci. The assortment in the outlet is mainly represented by the remains of previous collections. The shopping area in Rotterdam is located in the central part of the city, from the railway station to Blaak Street. The large shopping center, Alexandrium Shopping Center, which consists of 200 departments, is in a 30-minute drive from the downtown. There, you can buy clothes and accessories, shoes, and household goods.