Page 418 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

416  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
SHOPPING IN THE

NETHERLANDS

Throughout the Netherlands you will find centres are usually on the outskirts of towns
a huge range of shops and markets. Many and sometimes grouped together in retail
towns will have large retail chains, but you parks with parking facilities, child-care
will also find unique independent shops facilities and a cafeteria. Most are open, and
selling clothes, everyday goods and knick- at their busiest, on public holidays. Recent
knacks. Large specialized shops such as fashion items can often be picked up cheaply
furniture stores, factory outlets and garden at street markets and second-hand shops.

Fashion
at flea markets, but
your best bet is to The Dutch are spending more
go to an authentic and more of their incomes on
antique dealer. Many good-quality fashionable
antique dealers clothing. Besides internationally
specialize in a renowned couturiers, many
particular period or up-and-coming fashion
field – prints or designers have set up their own
clocks, for instance. boutiques. Their clothes are
If you prefer buying often handmade and fairly
antiques at auctions, pricey. More affordable clothes
you would are available at the larger
Shop selling antiques and curios probably do fashion retailers, both
best to visit home-grown and
Markets
the branches of international. A typical
Practically every town and the international Dutch way of being
village holds a general market auctioneers Sotheby’s fashionable is to
at least once a week. There are or Christie’s. In smaller combine a new and
also specialized markets, for auction houses too, expensive garment with
example, the farmers’ markets, interesting pieces often Antique dealer’s second-hand clothes. To
where you can buy fresh farm go under the hammer. shop sign see the designs of the
produce, as well as antique Another way of buying most famous couturiers,
markets and book fairs. Famous antiques is to visit the antique it is best to go to Amsterdam. On
specialized markets include the markets and fairs that are the PC Hooftstraat you will find
cheese markets of Alkmaar, held regularly throughout clothes by Hugo Boss, Armani
Edam and Gouda. Then there the country. and Yves Saint-Laurent, while
are also flea markets, where Amsterdam’s Nieuwe classical English clothing
traders and individuals alike Spiegelstraat is the place for and shoes are to be found
sell second-hand goods. antique collectors. Vendors in the shops on the Haagse
The Netherlands’ biggest include antique dealers Noordeinde in The Hague.
flea market takes place on specializing in ceramics, glass, Chains such as Vera Moda sell
Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) antique prints, paintings and everyday and durable clothing.
(see p36), when practically half nautical memorabilia.
of the country tries to get rid of Haarlem, Middelburg and
unwanted goods on the street. ’s-Hertogenbosch have large
Fairs are also popular and are numbers of antique shops;
held twice a year. Most markets these are often located in
start at 9:30am and end at 4pm old farmhouses. The most
or 5pm, while some are open common pieces on sale are
either in the mornings or the pine or oak furniture. The
afternoons only. MECC in Maastricht and
the Brabant hallen in
’s-Hertogenbosch are the
Antiques venues of annual antique fairs,
Antique collectors will find such as the renowned TEFAF,
plenty to occupy themselves the world’s biggest art and
with in the Netherlands. If you antique fair. Antique dealers
are fortunate, you may strike it from around the world come One of the country’s many antique and
lucky in second-hand shops or here to trade. second-hand shops

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm