Haarlemmerdijk is one of Amsterdam’s lesser known shopping streets and a great alternative to the crowded sidewalks of the Dam or the Nieuwendijk- the two main streets connecting the Central Station to the Centrum. Located in the very North of the Jordaandistrict the Haarlemmerdijk has a lot to offer. While you won’t find Zara, H&M and the like you’ll get an array of beautiful concept stores, restaurants and cafes instead. Especially the environmental and consumer conscious amongst you should seriously consider a little trip up north- maybe even on a Wednesday when you’ll find a little farmers market offering local products on the Haarlemmerplein.
The weather is good, the sidewalks are narrow. The number of concept stores with beautiful interior and incredibly expensive but heavenly soft cashmere sweaters in browns and baby-blues is seemingly endless. I don’t just find one vintage store, I find four. I try on a forest-green skirt, a 1920s-inspired top with beats and black lacing on beige silk and a pair of checkered pants I don’t feel brave enough to wear. I fall in love with a pair of vegan leather shoes just to fall out of love very quickly again when I see the 190€ price tag.
I manage to find a reusable water bottle in a shop that is stacked with non-toxic all-purpose cleaner, bamboo-toothbrushes, gorgeous pottery and cookbooks. In a store that only sells clothing manufactured in Amsterdam I try on some jeans that were slightly too large. I get a soy-cappuccino and try to memorize all the restaurants where me and my friends could have lunch one day: A Vietnamese Pho Place, a Salad Bar, a Turkish speciality shop.
According to iamsterdam.com I also walked past the oldest cinema in the entire city- a small building with a massive billboard screaming ‘The Movies’. Yet another point I’ve added to my bucket list which keeps growing and growing.
