Knuffels Toyshop & Wooden Shoe Factory, Amsterdam

Despite its modest size, Knuffels offers a delightful and unique shopping experience, brimming with items you won't typically find in modern toy stores. This charming, old-fashioned shop boasts a wide array of classic items and might be the only place in Amsterdam where you'll discover a large assortment of plushies. Furthermore, Knuffels serves as the home of the Wooden Shoe Factory, where a diverse range of clogs, available in various shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, are on offer.

While wooden clogs, known as 'klompen,' may not be the most practical or comfortable footwear for strolling around town, they can certainly find other creative uses. For instance, a custom-decorated clog could serve as a weighty and distinctive paperweight. Alternatively, a wooden shoe could be transformed into a planter, with flowers peeking out from the heel, creating a charming display. Numbers can be artfully painted on these shoes, making them suitable for adorning walls and serving as house addresses. Let your imagination run wild, and you can turn an item commonly found in nearly every Dutch tourist shop into a unique and thoughtful gift for your friends and family back home.