Field Guide
Amsterdam
As a city built for wandering, Amsterdam completely stole my heart. The architecture is charming, quirky, and humble - its character is reminiscent of the personality of New Orleans, the glamour of London, and the serenity of Stockholm. The canals weave through urban landscape with an intoxicating density - you’ll find yourself saying, “take a right after the fourth bridge, then take a left at the second,” yet meeting distraction moments later after encountering a cute shop or home.
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Photography by Chesley McCarty, shot on iPhone
Banner image (below) by Unsplash
Trip Snapshot
Amsterdam has a fantastic collection of retail experiences - thrift stores, home wares, boutique hotels, bespoke hair salons, women’s clothing, furniture shops - I’ve never left a city feeling so inspired by the visual creativity and energy. It is easy to get lost exploring, but you’ll never be more delighted to be lose track of time; due to the nature of the city’s layout, with canals weaving their way through every nook and cranny, I can only recall a handful of places I visited with clarity. But as I quickly learned, half of the fun of Amsterdam (if not all of the fun). is discovering boutiques that are tucked within the folds of the city, and the magic is something you simply must experience for yourself.
Currency & Getting Around
Most places in Amsterdam DO take credit cards, so don’t fret about only keeping cash on you. There are plenty of places to rent bikes, but walking is in my opinion the best way to take it all in and to be sure you don’t miss something.
I recommend taking a day trip in Haarlem - a quick 20-minute train ride from the city will drop you in a town that is equally as bustling and beautiful as the big city itself.
Trip Duration
I visited for three full days, and stayed in Haarlem, which is only a 20-minute train ride into the city. I would recommend at least two, if not three, days to spend in Amsterdam, and then another day or two if you’d like to travel to Haarlem or Edam.
Eat & Drink
First I fell in love with the city’s architecture, but then I fell in love with its appetite as well. In Amsterdam, snack culture reigns - you’ll find boutique spots for french fries, cookies, waffles, pie, and pancakes sprinkled on every corner. I’m certain I must have had a full meal or two during my trip, but the most memorable culinary moments were the ones served in a cone or a cup, perfect for strolling along a canal.
Snacks, Drinks, & Small Bites
Drinks at The Hoxton Amsterdam
Drinks at Soho House
Stroopwafel at Van Wonderen Stroopwafel
Pastries at Petit Gateau
Poffertjes at De Vier Pilaren
Drinks at Pulitzer Amsterdam
Coffee at Bocca Coffee
Coffee & Breakfast at Bar Wolkers (Haarlem)
Coffee at Mica Coffee Bar (Haarlem)
A Full Meal
Shop
Lesson learned: bring an extra suitcase, because the shopping in Amsterdam is remarkable. They put boutiques in the US to shame! When I first arrived, I was immediately impressed by the style of all of the ladies on their bikes - their hair was a little unkempt and the fashion subdued, but they always accented their look with a statement coat or a chunky sneaker.
You’ll find plenty of shops here stocked with pieces to add to your collection, as well as design stores that will fill you with inspiration for your apartment back home. My favorite part of shopping in Amsterdam is that the style isn’t fully defined, like you might find in Stockholm or Copenhagen - it’s as though the maximalism or NYC and the minimalism of Scandinavia got together for a collaboration, and you’ll want to claim every piece.
Gifts & Home
Homewares at Dille & Kamille
Furniture and homewares at De Weldaad
Stationery at Like Stationery
Plants and homewares at Wildernis
Homewares & stationery at The Maker Store
Books and magazines at Athenaeum Boekhandel
Homewares and furniture at Hay House
Clothing & Accessories
Women’s clothing at Sukha
Men and Women’s clothing at House of Denim
Jewelry at The Gather Shop
Walk & Wander
The joy of walking takes on an entirely different pace and stride in Amsterdam, where nearly every street is a story worth reading. I’ve only visited in May, on the tail end of tulip season, but still stoops and window boxes were overflowing with flowers, and every corner left me wanting to walk just a little bit further. I encourage getting lost in Amsterdam - fuel up on some poffertjes and coffee in the morning, and see where you feet want to lead you.
Usually I am able to recommend specific retail corridors, but in Amsterdam, there is really no wrong way to turn, and if you use the details in this Field Guide to set your final destination, your adventure to it won’t disappoint you.
