Kalverstraat, Amsterdam

Once the backdrop for a medieval marketplace, Kalverstraat now stands as arguably the most bustling shopping thoroughfare within Amsterdam, spanning the entirety of the city center in a North-South direction for approximately 750 meters, from Dam Square to Muntplein Square. It brims with an array of budget-friendly and cheerful shops, interspersed with a selection of higher-end designer boutiques. While Kalverstraat officially commences at Dam Square and extends to Muntplein, the shopping district seamlessly encompasses its continuation across the Dam into Nieuwendijk and the nearby Rokin. Notably, Dam Square hosts several department stores, with Bijenkorf (Amsterdam's premier option), Peek & Cloppenburg, and Maison de Bonneterie among them.

Beyond the multitude of clothing, sports, and shoe stores, this area also features a branch of the Waterstone's bookshop chain, located at #152. At #212, you'll encounter the ever-present and budget-friendly HEMA department store chain, established in 1926 and now a Dutch institution, offering affordable designer goods, practical clothing, stationery, kitchenware, and food items. On Rokin, one of the standout shops is the P.G.C. Hajenius tobacconist at No. 96. If you have a penchant for Havanas from a well-maintained humidor or seek a traditional clay pipe as a souvenir, this establishment is sure to delight.