De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Streets)

Trendsetting fashion

If you decide to shop in the 9 Straatjes, chances are you’ll end up with something really unusual. In Huidenstraat, for example, Donna Fiera sells clothes for women who are not afraid of attracting attention; a shop full of feminine labels that you’ll have difficulty finding elsewhere. Next door is Goods, boasting a large collection of affordable women’s and men’s clothes of labels such as Fornarina, Laundry Industry, G-sus and FCUK.

If you’re looking for trendy vintage, you’re bound to find something to your liking across the road at Zipper. Other good second-hand clothing shops are Lady Day in Hartenstraat and Laura Dols in Wolvenstraat.

Fashion fans will be delighted by what they’ll find at Van Ravenstein at the corner of Keizersgracht and Huidenstraat. This shop sells mostly creations by Belgian designers such as Dries van Noten, Martin Margiela, Dirk Bikkembergs and Ann Demeulemeester. Razzmatazz in Wolvenstraat has clothing by trendsetting designers such as Walter van Beirendonck, Vivienne Westwood and Dexter Wong. Cool but classical is the clothing of the Dutch fashion designer Analik in Hartenstraat. Shoe freaks should meanwhile head straight for trendsetter Antonia in Gasthuismolensteeg.

Gifts and gadgets

Are you after something to thrill folks back home or do you feel you’ve earned a little pampering yourself? In that case the 9 Straatjes is the place to be. For a start there’s the weird and wonderful De Witte Tandenwinkel in Runstraat, which sells absolutely everything in the field of mouth and dental care.

A bit further along is another shop selling products to make you (stay) beautiful: Skins Cosmetics Lounge. They stock exclusive, natural cosmetics of brands such as Aēsop, Philosophy and Ren.

Stylish lingerie, saucy undies and naughty toys are what you’ll find in abundance at Stout in Berenstraat, an erotica shop specially for women.

Zinne & Minne in Wolvenstraat also sells an exciting range of titillating gadgets. From edible creams and massage oils to thongs made of pearls. Beadies in Huidenstraat is a bead and jewellery shop where Barbie would feel very much at home: you’ll spot the sparkling Swarovski crystal and boudoir colours from afar. For culinary gifts of every colour imaginable, head for What’s Cooking? in Reestraat. From kitschy plastic tablecloths to tasteful Spanish earthenware

Lunching and lounging

Van Harte in the Hartenstraat is a welcoming, noisy sitting room with stylish flowery wallpaper and a large reading table that serves simple, affordable French-Mediterranean-style lunches and dinners. Lust in Runstraat has a trendy design interior that is almost completely green. Simple dishes such as salads, hamburgers and fruit shakes make this an ideal place for lunch.

At Urban Picnic in Oude Spiegelstraat you can actually shop while you eat. This place sells vintage design furniture, but also tasty dishes for a picnic. Goodies in Huidenstraat is a small, informal sort of place – ideal for a stuffed roll at lunchtime or a quick bowl of pasta in the evening.

If you want to dine at your leisure in a grand style, go to Barok in Wolvenstraat. A few houses further along is bar-restaurant Brix that serves highly artistic entrées in an appealing ambiance to a background of jazzy music. Opposite Brix is the nameless Wolvenstraat 23, a trendy bar where you can chill out with a drink or sample quite affordable Chinese snacks. If this place’s atmosphere appeals to you, spend the night in the only hotel room available at Wolvenstraat 23. A somewhat older crowd will feel very much at home at De Pels a little further along: a welcoming, intimate ‘brown café’ where you’ll find many intellectuals and creative types nipping their gin.