Amsterdam’s nicest shopping street: Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk

DutchAmsterdam.nl — While Amsterdam’s most expensive shopping street, the P.C. Hooftstraat, was recently rated third on a list of the world’s nicest places to shop, shoppers throughout the Netherlands have selected the city’s Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat as, together, the nicest shopping street in Holland.

One of our favorite shops: 't Zonnetje Coffee and Tea, at Haarlemmerdijk 45

Some 30.000 users of NLStreets, a website that highlights shopping streets in all Dutch towns, selected the popular Amsterdam shopping spot from among seventy streets that were nominated for the award.

Criteria included the variety of shops, the atmosphere and appearance of the street, but also the presence of many independent entrepreneurs.

The Haarlemmerstraat is located in the center of Amsterdam, near Central Station. It is the extension of the Nieuwendijk, another shopping street. Further west Haarlemmerdijk is in extension with Haarlemmerstraat.

‘Haarlem’ refers to a city about 20 km west of Amsterdam. ‘Straat’ means street, and ‘dijk’ means dike.

Picturesque, gabled houses in the Haarlemmerstraat

Both streets are considered one single shopping district, which includes a rich supply of boutiques, cafés, specialty shops and trendy restaurants — some 240 business establishments.

The street sports a few small hotels as well, and particularly at the start of Haarlemmerstraat — closest to Central Station — there is quite a selection of coffeeshops (establishments where soft drugs are legally sold and used).

Every Wednesday from 10:00 to 17:00 (10am to 5 pm) there is an organic farmers market at Haarlemmerplein, the square at the end of Haarlemmerdijk.

Recently restored to its old luster the street and dike include many gabled houses, a number of which have been declared monuments.