De Negen Straatjes

Amsterdam’s De Negen Straatjes, or ‘Nine Little Streets’, are the nine shopping streets linking the main Prinsengracht and Singel canals. The pedestrian quarter not only makes the perfect destination for window-shopping, but draw your eye above the shop fronts and you’ll find plenty of impressive architecture to marvel over. Many of the buildings here date back to the 17th-century and the area has been the go-to shopping area for locals for almost 400 years.

Ardent shoppers will find plenty to get excited about, with the area’s shops as varied and vibrant as the city itself. The cobbled streets abound with homegrown designer boutiques, vintage clothing shops and independent art galleries, with shop windows showcasing creative displays of artisan furnishings, alternative clothing designs and handcrafted accessories. The unique, quirky and bizarre reign in the small themed shops, with plenty of unusual finds and distinctive keepsakes on offer, but if you’re after typical souvenirs, you’ll be better heading elsewhere. Even the coffee shops here come with an independent flavor, with international chains passed over in favor of Amsterdam’s characteristic brown bars, hip bistros and homely cafés.
With their matchless charm and fierce individuality, these nine little streets are more than just a collection of shops. The vibrant, bustling neighborhood remains one of the most uniquely appealing areas of Amsterdam.