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Each shopping area has its own special character. De Negen Straatjes, the Jordaan and Haarlemmerbuurt have bric-a-brac and speciality shops. The Spiegelkwartier and Rokin are the places for art and antiques. Most chain stores are in Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. Leidsestraat and Utrechtsestraat have more upmarket boutiques, and PC Hooftstraat is the home of designer fashion.

Shops are generally open from 9am–6pm Tue, Wed and Fri, from 9am–9pm on Thu, from 9am–5pm on Sat, and from 1–6pm on Mon (although most department stores open at 11am). Many shops also open from noon to 6pm on Sun. By city law, shopkeepers can trade between 7am and 10pm daily.

Most marked prices include 19 per cent VAT. Global Refund entitles non-EU residents to a percentage back over a minimum figure of €137 (more you spend, the higher the percentage), bought at one shop on the same day and exported within 90 days. If the shop has ‘Tax-free’ status, collect a Global Refund Cheque, have it stamped by Customs on your departure, and claim your refund when you leave the EU.

January and July are the traditional months for end-of-season sales, when you are likely to find some great bargains. Some shops have an almost permanent sale rail.Korting means reductions are being offered. The Dutch for sale isuitverkoop .

Amsterdam shopping is very cosmopolitan. It spans designer fashion and off-beat second-hand clothes, valuable antiques and colourful Indonesian beads. For a flavour of the city, you might be tempted by Dutch chocolate, cheese,paling (raw herring), beer orjenever or, for something less ephemeral, Delftware or diamonds.

Compared to its speciality shops, Amsterdam’s department stores seem run-of-the-mill. On the corner of Dam Square and Damrak, De Bijenkorf is the most famous. More exclusive, however, are Maison de Bonneterie and Metz & Co. The city’s first mall, Magna Plaza, has several floors of boutiques and cafés in a converted post office.

It is these quirky little shops devoted to specific items – from candles to toothbrushes – that make shopping in Amsterdam such a joy. Although they crop up throughout the city, they are thickest on the ground in De Negen Straatjes.

The Spiegelkwartier is the heart of the art and antiques trade. Here, a host of dealers specialize in a variety of objects from Delftware and glass to icons and tribal art.

The four members of the Amsterdam Diamond Foundation guarantee quality.

The Dutch love flowers. For the best selection of cut flowers and bulbs, go to the Bloemenmarkt. Depending on the harshness of the winter, bulbs are usually available between June and late December, but check your own country’s import regulations before exporting.