Amsterdam - any recommendations?

[AndyM]

Gentlemen,
I shall be visiting Amsterdam for the first time shortly, can members recommend any clothing shops I should visit? Restaurant recommendations will also be welcome.

Thank you.
Andy

[pemazel]

L.S.,

Though you'll be probably back again, I would advise Sir Max at Hartenstraat 2, Amsterdam: small shop beautiful shoes (http://www.sirmax.nl also in English) and the P.C. Hooftstraat with many shops including Oger: perhaps a bit vulgar but with very fine clothing nevertheless (http://www.en.oger.nl.: in English as well).

Regards,

P.

[AndyM]

Thank you for your reply,unfortunately it arrived when I was away, I returned yesterday. However I did find Sir Max and I agree they have some lovely shoes, I did not spend much time around the shops as I wanted to see as much art as possible. I did enjoy Amsterdam and hope to return.

Best wishes,
Andy

[Gido]

hello,

i found this thread and want to agree with sir max, but i do not like oger very much. i think it's a bit stuffy, the staff isn't friendly and the store reeks of creed fragrance, which i detest (with the exception of one or two).

another great place to visit for shoes is meyer, in the p.c. hooftstraat. and just around the corner from that street, in the van baerlestraat, you will find a fine little shop called harbour, specialised in gentlemen's clothes. everytime i pass this store i have to stop and look in the window, it is alway beautifully done and with distinctive taste. they have lots of nice accessoires, but i especially love their colorful casual collection.
and a little further down that road is pauw mannen, a little less special but still nice, it focuses more on the business side of clothing.

they're all in half a mile distance from each other, and this is right next to the museumplein, where two or three of our best museums are: rijksmuseum (lots of rembrandt, frans hals, vermeer, and many other dutch masters from the golden era), stedelijk museum (modern arts) and the van gogh museum (needs no desciption).

[Gido]

ps.

i should have mentioned the english hatter, too. even more casual than harbour, very english in style. you can find them and the heiligeweg.

[AndyM]

Gido,
Thank you for your detailed reply, much appreciated! I love the Rijksmuseum, it is wonderful to see so many works I only know from photographs, they look good in the photographs but the reality is stunning!

I don't recall Harbour, I must look out for it next time I am there.

I have been recommended to revisit Amsterdam around Queens Day, is that a good idea?

[Gido]

you're welcome. and by the way, their suits are made to measure.

google for pictures on queensday (or koninginnendag as we call it) and amsterdam. if you like what you see, it might be a good idea. the city is packed with drunken people, acting crazy, all wearing orange (our royal family is called 'van oranje' with means 'of orange'). even the canals are stuck in a traffic jam. if you want to roam the fleamarket (almost the entire center and then some) but avoid the wasted masses, make sure to go early. they have been partying hard the night before. around 8 in the morning would be a good time.