Centrum Shops

This little two-story shop specializes in brands that fit owner Rena Noordermeer’s easy-going aesthetic and produce their wares responsibly. Some are familiar (Juniper Ridge bath products and Herschel backpacks), and some, like color-happy prints from Likeland and the Hear Hear house line of beautiful ceramics, are totally under-the-radar. The best part is that the hanging and potted plants scattered throughout the shop are also for sale.

Sprawling, stylized, and impeccably curated—this candy-colored boutique (it’s designed to resemble circa 1980's Miami) is exactly how we picture a Dutch concept store. The brand assortment includes men’s and women’s picks from Maison Kitsune, Norse Projects, and Won Hundred among others, so nothing too experimental but envelope-pushing nonetheless. In addition to a coffee-and-snack bar there’s a pop-up corner dedicated to showcasing individual lines for a month at a time.

Situated right in the heart of the city center in Dam Square, the elaborate facade of De Bijenkorf’s flagship store is kind of impossible to miss. This is a traditional European department store, meaning you’ll find everything from fashion to home décor to skincare all in one place. There’s also a great café, a hair salon, and a very respectable art gallery.

This teeny shop is a treasure trove of antique books, prints, and maps. Eduard van Dishoeck is a fifth generation antiques expert, so you know that whether you walk away with a fun one-of-a-kind souvenir or a valuable collector’s item, it’s the real deal. Stock is sourced from all over the world and tends to turn around frequently, so no two visits are the same.

While you may stop in with the intention of quickly picking up some train or plane reading material, the selection of English-language books—which spans three floors and just about every genre—has been known to keep book lovers browsing for hours. Check the ABC site before your visit for special events like book signings, author readings, and their famously generous sales.

It’s hard to categorize Droog as any one thing since it’s actually a shop, design collective, gallery, café, garden, and micro-hotel (there’s only one guestroom) all spread out over three floors of a single historic house. The shop is stocked with design-y home décor, accessories, and furniture from notable Dutch makers, as well as an area devoted to under-the-radar fashion labels, and a “spa” for beauty products of European origin. Connected to the retail space you’ll find the Fairy Tale Garden—a real-life garden designed by Claude Pasquer and Corinne Détroyat to look like something out of a pop-up book. Set up right next to the garden is Roomservice—a truly special little nook for grabbing a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or something more substantial, like soup and salad. It’s a lot to take in, we suggest setting aside a good chunk of the day to exploring the space.