Antiques & Art

The Jordaan has a nice collection of small antique shops, each specializing in a period or region. It’s a pleasant area to stroll (little traffic), and windowshop. There are also art galleries in the Jordaan, around the Concertgebouw and on the Rokin. If you have more money you might want to attend an auction at Sotheby’s or Christie’s auction houses.

The Melkweg has an eclectic photo gallery worth checking out!

Dutch Fashions

Dutch fashions are pretty wild. These mannekins give you some sort of idea. The one on the right’s dress says the word “fuck” over and over and over. Dutch fashions run the gamut from 50s style plaid sport jackets to gothic black to punk to hip hop to orange everything! And of course, the Dutch are fond of American clothes, but a wave of young, talented designers is creating a new fashion scene in Amsterdam.

Flowers


Holland has the most successful flower industry in the world. They ship daily by jet to everywhere. In the spring you can tour the bulbfields south of Haarlem, or visit the beautiful gardens of Keukenhof park, or see the world’s biggest flower auction in Aalsmeer, or just stroll through the Bloemenmarkt of Amsterdam. Whether or not you decide to bring back or ship home tulip bulbs, the displays of flowers in any of these places is beautiful to behold.

Automobiles

Believe it or not Holland is one of the cheapest places to buy a car. Of course you’d want to buy a European model, like a Mercedes to get a good deal. The population density of Holland and the lack of parking spaces in cities like Amsterdam have forced the Dutch to favor small cars. You’ll see some of the smallest vehicles ever made on the streets of Amsterdam. So if you’re looking for something unusual you might find it here. If you’re planning a long drive through Europe you can buy a car in Holland and either sell it or ship it home when you’re done. Each country in the E.U. has different regulations regarding the purchase of cars by tourists. In some cases you can avoid paying sales tax and registration fees. Check with the authorities before buying anything since the rules are subject to change.