Amsterdam markets: where the best shopping is right on the street
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is famous for its street markets, which reflect the city's multilayered cultural history and diversity. From lively marketplaces with fresh food to art fairs and small boutiques, Amsterdam's best markets offer a variety of shopping and leisure opportunities.
Below you will find 12 of the best markets in Amsterdam that are worth visiting to immerse yourself in its local culture.
Bloemenmarkt
Bloemen is the only floating flower market in the world. The open-air market in Amsterdam offers a diverse range of flowers, especially tulips, garden plants and seeds. In addition, they sell a variety of souvenir gifts and flower arrangements.
The Bloemen Market is the longest-running flower market in the world. It's worth a look even if you don't plan to buy flowers, but want to take a walk in a romantic atmosphere with the smell of tulips.
Ten Katemarkt
Markets in Amsterdam are not only for shopping, but also for walking. Ten Keipel, located in the Western district of Amsterdam, is a great place to buy fresh food, cheese, fish and flowers. Here you will also find inexpensive clothes and accessories. Ten Keuvel Market is popular with locals who enjoy a stroll and a cup of coffee on Amsterdam's market street.
Albert Cuypmarkt
Albert Cuyp is the largest and most popular market in Amsterdam, which stretches along the Albert Cuyp market street in the De Pijp district. It is a great place to taste local specialties and observe the life of the city. From food and typical souvenirs to electronics and cosmetics, you can find almost anything you want at attractive prices.
The Albert Kaup Market is a place where you can find not only traditional Dutch dishes, but also food from all over the world. With such a large-scale market, there are also risks. Tourists should be careful, as thieves are after wallets.
De Negen Straatjes Market
Located in the central Kanalengurt district, the Nine Streets Market offers a unique assortment of shops, galleries, and cafes. This area is known for its small boutiques with clothes from young designers, antique shops and delicious coffee shops. The Nine Streets complex is one of the most touristy areas of the city, attracting many visitors. It is known as a very old neighborhood, in the heart of Amsterdam, which for many years was outdated and relatively neglected. Large-scale changes and renovations have made it popular and prestigious.
Waterlooplein Market (Waterloopleinmarkt)
The Waterlooplein Market is the oldest market in Amsterdam, known for its vintage items. Here you can find everything from clothes to antique furniture, musical instruments and much more. It is the perfect place to find unique items from the past. The market is a very large open-air bazaar in Amsterdam where you can find a wide range of goods and items that would be difficult to find elsewhere. Mostly you will find used clothes, shoes, accessories and posters there. The market offers antique items such as old military uniforms, posters of Che Guevara, spray paint for graffiti, and countless other items from Africa and the Americas. The market is mostly populated by young and stylish people looking for bargains that will improve their appearance and style.
Noordermarkt market
The antique center of Amsterdam is a real paradise for connoisseurs of unique items from different eras. Noordermarkt is one of the largest old markets in Amsterdam. On an area of more than 1,500 square meters, you will find an amazing assortment of antiques from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and Art Deco, as well as art, stylish vintage and design from the fifties, sixties and seventies. Every Sunday, from May to October, Nieuwmarkt turns into a shopaholic's paradise.
Dappermarkt
More than 100 years ago, Dappermarkt officially became known as one of the most accessible and multicultural markets in Amsterdam. It offers a variety of products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, spices, clothing, and decorative goods. Here you can feel the life rhythm of the local population. The market administration introduces constant innovations and invites vendors with experimental products to join them.
Appeltjesmarkt market
Located on Marnixstraat, one of the most popular street markets in Amsterdam, Appeltjesmarkt was once a thriving fruit and vegetable market. Since 1957, it has served as a bus station, but remains an important part of the neighborhood's past, fondly remembered by its residents. Each year, the section of Marnixstraat that once housed the market is transformed into a lively open-air venue for the annual Jordan Festival, a celebration of the neighborhood's rich heritage and vibrant culture. The market takes place every Saturday and sells antiques, vintage accessories and clothing.
Lindengrachtmarkt
A walk through the markets in Amsterdam is a dream for many tourists who love shopping. Every Saturday, the Lindengracht market in Amsterdam invites you to stroll and shop at more than 200 outlets. A wide variety of goods are sold under the tall linden trees: fruits and vegetables, freshly caught fish, cheese and flowers, as well as clothes, newspapers and bicycles. Lindengracht is located right in the center of Amsterdam in the Jordan district. The market is also famous for its authentic cafes and restaurants.
Westerstraatmarkt
Amsterdam's Westerstraat street market takes place every Monday in the Jordan district. Here you can find everything from clothes, shoes and bags to antique books and antiques. It is a large open-air market that runs along the Westerstraat, one of the largest market streets in Amsterdam in the Jordan district. It was originally a textile market, but in recent years it has transformed to offer quality clothing and shoes, sometimes with luxury designer labels. They often sell goods from closed shops, slightly defective products from factories, and shoes of non-standard sizes. The most famous fashion brands are represented. A pair of Versace pants will cost 25 euros, which is nothing compared to their original price in a boutique.
Flea market (IJ Hallen)
Amsterdam's local flea market, the IJ Hallen, is held in a converted shipyard on a weekend every month. Anyone can rent one of the 500 stands, but the market has one simple rule: everything must be second-hand. For some people, it's a chance to get rid of the junk that clutters up their homes, but for intrepid vintage hunters, there are plenty of vintage finds to be found here.
Artplein-Spui
For more than 25 years, Dutch and international artists have been showcasing their paintings and sketches to locals looking for bargains. Sculptors, glassmakers, jewelers, and mixed media artists also exhibit at Artplein-Spui, making it an interesting way to spend a few hours in the Amsterdam markets.