20 of the Best And Unique Souvenirs From Amsterdam Ever!

If you are planning a trip to Amsterdam, you will be interested in finding out what souvenirs you can shop for to bring back a unique piece of Amsterdam back home with you. Amsterdam is a wonderfully quaint city full of adventures. You will have plenty of opportunities to bring the Amsterdam experience back home with you.

What are some unique souvenirs that you can buy in Amsterdam? The 20 best and unique souvenirs that you will come across as you wander the streets of Amsterdam are:

Wooden Clogs

Bonbons

Licorice

Nijntje Stuffed Animals

Jenever

Droog Products

Delft Pottery

Stroopwafels

Barts Hats

Amsterdam Gumshoe

Dutch Cheese

Dutch Flowering Bulbs

Sustainable Leather Bags

Handmade Soaps

Unique Tea Blends

Blond Amsterdam Home Decor

Dutch Birthday Calendars

Items By Moooi

Designs By Van Gogh

Amsterdam Houses

In this guide to buying unique souvenirs in Amsterdam, you will find out what makes each type of item special and locations where you can find them. This guide to buying souvenirs in Amsterdam is geared towards those who will need to find items that they will be able to take on a plane.

1.   Wooden Clogs

You can’t leave Amsterdam without this special piece of Dutch history.  Dutch wooden shoes or clogs (known as klompen). The shoes are often made of poplar or willow and painted.

The full extent of the history of the Dutch wooden shoes is difficult to discern because they have traditionally been used as firewood once they have become worn out. It is estimated that the earliest wooden shoes date back 850 years ago.

They were worn as protective clothing by workers employed in a variety of professions. They are even strong enough to be officially recognized by the European Union as safety shoes.

Most souvenir shops in Amsterdam will have wooden clogs available for sale. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can travel to Zaan Schans or Volendam outside the city limits to see clogs made the traditional way. You may also buy the handmade clogs.

2.   Bonbons

Amsterdam is famous for being home to Puccini Bomboni. This family-run business is nearly thirty years old.

These handcrafted chocolates can be found in three different locations within Amsterdam.

Many have lauded them as among the best chocolates in the world. They do not contain any added preservatives and are made using sustainable chocolates. Puccini Bomboni earned a spot on National Geographic’s list of the Ten Best Chocolatiers In The World.

The chocolates have been described as truffle-like in nature and made of very rich dark chocolate (usually 70% cocoa). You will find a small variety of different flavors of bonbons, such as a pepper log and a plum bonbon.

Even though there is not an extensive list of different flavors to choose from, you will find that Puccini does provide exotic combinations of fine spices and chocolates.

Spices used in these chocolates include tamarind, thyme, lemongrass, and gin, among others.

3.   Licorice

The rich chocolates aren’t even the candies that Amsterdam is most famous for. The Dutch consume more licorice per capita than anyone else in the world.

The Dutch call their licorice “drop.” They come in a variety of flavors on a scale ranging from sweet to salty. Drop also comes in a variety of textures ranging from hard to soft.  The Dutch particularly enjoy black licorice.

The licorice is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, among other medicinal benefits, including stress reduction, stomach relief and respiratory improvement.

While licorice often comes in spiral shapes in the US, in Amsterdam, it often comes in the square, diamond and coin shapes. You can find the candies in Hema (a chain of variety stores in the Netherlands), specialty candy stores or drug stores in Amsterdam (called the apotheke).

The most popular spot to try some licorice in Amsterdam is at the Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje (or Old Dutch Candy Shop). The shop is situated on the banks of a quaint canal and is only a short walk from the Anne Frank Museum.

• Those who are into salty flavors will enjoy Dubble Zout ( or double-salted) drops
• For something a little less salty as for Zout drops
• Those who are more into the sweet flavors will enjoy Honingdrop (honey) drops

4.   Nijntje Stuffed Animals

Nijnte (Miffy in English)  is a famous rabbit from a series of classic children’s books written and illustrated by the Dutch artist Dick Bruna.

You can find many stores with sections dedicated to Miffy merchandise in Amsterdam.

There is even an entire store in Amsterdam dedicated to Miffy. It is called De Winkel van Nijntje( or “The store of Miffy”)

This is a great place to visit if you are visiting Amsterdam as a family with kids or to look for souvenirs to bring back home to kids.

5.   Jenever

Jenever is the Dutch word for “juniper berry.” It is also the name of the famous liquor enjoyed by the Dutch people. The gin drink was originally distilled for medicinal purposes in the 16th century.

Today, visitors of Amsterdam looking for an authentic experience can partake in the Dutch tradition of sipping jenever by going to a proeflokaal in the city.

A proeflokaal is basically a tasting room. You will choose between jenever that is either oude(old) or jonge(young).

The difference between old and young jenever does not refer to the aging process. Rather it refers to the distilling method utilized during production.

You can also purchase bottles of jenever at various liquor and wine stores throughout Amsterdam.

6.   Droog Products

Droog is a design company originating in the Netherlands that produces products unique to the Dutch experience. As a design brand, one of the product lines that droog designs are various types of decorations for your living room. These products range from artwork to decorative elephants.

• A great place to buy decorations for your living room designed by Droog is the Home Stock store located at Drossestraat 16(Haarlem).

• You can find elegant wood, leather, upholstery and kitchenware designed by Droog at Atelier 8 located at Gasthuisstraat 34 (Haarlem).

• Kitchenware, plant pots, candles and a collection of prints and artwork designed by Droog can be purchased at Raw Materials located at Rozengracht 231.

• Locally designed glassware, paintings and collectibles can be found at DPRTMNT located at Gedempte Oude Gracht 79 (Haarlem).

Whether it’s collectibles such as paintings and glassware or candles and plant pots, you can find souvenirs designed by the famous Dutch design company Droog at locations strewn throughout Amsterdam.

7. Delft Pottery

Delft pottery is made of clay that was coated with a tin glaze after being fired.  Between the 17^th and 19^th centuries, wealthy Dutch families would show off their Delft Blue earthenware collections to one another.

During the peak days of production, there were as many as 33 factories in the city of Delft churning out the famous earthenware. Today there is just one single factory, Royal Delft, producing Delft Blue pottery.

You can find delftware pottery at numerous specialty stores located throughout the city of Amsterdam. One such specialty store is the family-run Kramer Kunst & Antiek store, which carries a wide variety of traditional Dutch items in addition to the Delftware, which the store is a certified trader for.

Royal Delft has a satellite store located in Amsterdam, where you will find a showroom displaying craftspeople at work. You can learn the history of Delftware while viewing and possibly buying authentic pottery.

One of the most reputable dealers of Delftware pottery is Aronson Antiquairs located in the center of Amsterdam’s arts district located along Nieuwe Spiegelstraat. The collection here includes handcrafted plates, tiles, pots, and vases.

There is a showroom open 7 days a week at the specialty souvenir store Galleria D’Arte Rinascimento located a manageable distance from the city center along Prinsengracht.

The largest collection of Delftware in Amsterdam can be found at Jorrit Heinnen located at Leidsestraat 57. The store carries classic vases, tiles, jewelry and teapots, among other items.

7.   Stroopwafels

You can’t possibly tour around Amsterdam without trying the tasty treat the Dutch are most famous for making. Stroopwafels are made of two waffle-like crisps united by a layer of sweet syrup the Dutch call stroop.  The waffle crisps are often born of a simple batter consisting of flour, butter, milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.

The syrup itself is a simple butter and brown sugar-based syrup, though Dutch bakers will often add their own little twists to the traditional recipe.

There are numerous popular spots to buy stroopwafels-, whether fresh or packaged, located throughout Amsterdam:

·         Lanksroom- this bakery is located along the canal at Singel 385. Patrons usually have a choice of three different types of fillings: Linden Honey, coffee caramel, or fig. The wafers here have a reputation for being thicker and crunchier than some of the others found around the city

·         Albert Cuyp Markt- Perhaps the most famous location to buy Stroopwafels in Amsterdam is the home of the “original stroopwafel.” The founder of this stand learned how to make the stroopwafel in Gouda, which is the actual origin town of the famed treat.

·         Van Wondern Stroopwafels- At this vendor, customers are encouraged to be creative with their stroopwafels.  The treat can be enhanced with additional layers of  chocolate, marshmallows and candies

·         Stach- These delis/grocery stores can be found at 10 different locations across the city of Amsterdam.  At the stores, you will be able to pick from a diverse collection of both freshly-baked goodies and packaged tasty treats

8.   Barts Hats

Barts is Amsterdam’s most famous creative fashion brand. The brand makes accessories that keep you warm during chilly weather. There is only one vendor in the USA, making this clothing brand unique to the Amsterdam experience. Popular items include band hats and beanies.

9.   Amsterdam Gumshoe

This is a shoe made out of chewing gum. Yes, you read that right- the creator of the gumshoe drew inspiration for their idea from the desire to take care of Amsterdam’s littering problems.

The soles of the shoe are made out of recycled chewing gum pulled from the streets of Amsterdam. You may think it sounds a little gross at first, but these shoes are quite the hot item.

In 2019, the Gumshoe was completely sold out. Keep in mind that these shoes can come at a bit of a cost for a good cause. Here’s a video about the advertising campaign.

10.                Dutch Cheese

The Dutch consume 25% more dairy products than Americans on average, according to this site.  The quality of cheese found in the Netherlands is one of the leading causes of the Dutch obsession with dairy products.

One of the reasons that the cheese in Amsterdam is so good is the nutritious grass that the Friesian cows feed on. The land claimed from the sea is filled with rich, fertile soil.

The majority of cheeses you’ll find in Amsterdam are hard or semi-hard in texture, unlike the soft and spreadable cheeses you may find in places such as France.

• Cheese that has not been aged for long is called jong (or young). This type of cheese has the softest and creamiest flavors.

• Belegen cheese is slightly harder and nuttier tasting. It is still smooth enough to slice.

• As cheese is aged, it starts to develop crystals that cause it to pack more of a punch. Well-aged cheeses such as overjarig can be quite pungent in flavor and crumbly in texture.

You will also find cheeses with interesting flavors owing to the addition of spices and herbs such as cumin seeds that gives the cheese an earthy taste or cloves that give the cheese a warm and spicy flavor.

You can find markets in Amsterdam that have multiple vendors selling Dutch cheeses:

• Noordermarkt: This organic market takes place in the Jordann on Saturdays. This market has been home to as many as six cheese stands at once.
• Lindenmarkt: This market is located just around the corner from the Noordermarkt, where cheese vendors are common amongst the 232 total vendors in the market.
• Albert Cuyp Market: There is a large variety of cheese at this market located in the Amsterdam De Pijp neighborhood. You can even buy private tours with locals who will lead you on a taste tour of the food at the market.

You can also visit one of the cheese shops located throughout the city of Amsterdam. These shops will usually be able to vacuum-seal your purchase making it last longer for your trip back home.

One of the most reputable cheese shops is De Kaskaamer, located at Runstraat 7. This shop carries just about any type of cheese your heart could desire. There are sampler packs available at the shop.

11.                Dutch Flowering Bulbs

The Netherlands is considered to be the “tulip capital of the world.” One unique souvenir you may look to bring back home from a visit to Amsterdam is a flowering bulb or two.

Before making a purchase, make sure you will be allowed to take the bulbs home with you on the plane. Not all countries have the same rules and come countries have maximum quantities allowed.

If you buy the bulbs at the airport, you will be able to take them home. Otherwise, as is often the case with food or agricultural products, you will need to check to see if there is a label showing that the product is ok for export.

12.                Sustainable Leather Bags

O My Bag is a sustainably-made leather bag brand made in Amsterdam. You can visit an outlet shop located at Ceintuurbaan H-117.

Products are made from organic cotton. The company also has a second-hand program in which they sell previously used O My Bag products still in a reasonable condition.

The company crafts exquisite coin purses, cardholders, maxi bags, and backpacks among many other items.

Take, for example, Billie’s Backpack which is made of GOTS certified cotton, which has been grown without any pesticides or fertilizers.

13.                Handmade Soaps

La Savonnaire, located at Prinsengracht 294 in Amsterdam, is a shop that makes handcrafted soaps. These handcrafted soaps make an excellent souvenir for those visiting Amsterdam who are looking for unique natural soaps and toiletries.

There are more than 100 handmade soaps to choose from that are crafted on-site.

You can order personalized items that can feature virtually anything you want on them from names to dates, provided that you allow at least 24 hours for the product to be finished.

14.                Unique Tea Blends

Tea Bar is a shop located along Haarlemmerdijk near the central train station in Amsterdam.

 At the shop, you will find many different tea blends for sale and blends that you can mix together to make your own unique tea.

Over 60 different flavors of tea are displayed along the wall of the shop.

Some of the more unique flavors available include a Dutch Apple Pie flavor (Oudhollandse appeltaart) and a nutty chocolate flavor(Choco Chanel).

Owing to their small size, tea flavor packets can be a good souvenir item for a buyer who is looking to bring the item on a plane ride back home with them.

15.                Blond Amsterdam Home Decor

On the subject of tea, you can find unique cups and mugs in Amsterdam to take home as souvenirs. One of the most popular brands of kitchenware in Amsterdam is Blond Amsterdam.

Blond Amsterdam is known for designing tableware that is both light-hearted and visually appealing.

The brand also puts its own twist on Delft Blue pottery; they often create items with humorous graphics like the ones you would see in comic strips.

For example, take a look at this heartwarming Delft Blonds breakfast set. The breakfast set includes a plate with an illustration on it of two children, a girl and a boy, getting ready to dig into the breakfast with wide smiles on their faces.

Blond Amsterdam doesn’t just make porcelain kitchenware though; they create a multitude of items that follow their brand’s unique styling methods including:

• Bedding
• Placemats
• Napkins
• Shopping Bags
• Phone Cases

Blond Amsterdam items have become popular enough to be widely available in most Dutch department stores.

You can also visit the Blond Amsterdam pottery, located at Ferdinand Bolstraat 44. The shop is open 7 days a week.  There is also a cafe in the shop.

The cafe offers customers a piece of  rich red velvet cake available for the buyer while they are in the shop.

16.                Dutch Birthday Calendars

If you are looking for a souvenir unique to Amsterdam that is also affordable, then you should look for the birthday calendars ( de verjaardagskalender in Dutch) around the city.

The birthday calendars can be found in almost every Dutch home. It is an important part of Dutch culture to be able to remember the birthdays of everyone close to you.

The birthday calendar is exactly what it sounds like. It is a way for you to track the birthdays of everyone in your circle.

Dutch birthday calendars are perpetual by design, meaning that you will not need to buy a new one every year.

The calendars can be found in retail stores in Amsterdam, such as the HEMA stores.

17.                Items by Moooi

Moooi is another one of Amsterdam’s famous design brands. It’s been said that browsing a showroom of Moooi items is like visiting a Dutch museum of interior design.

A Moooi shop in Amsterdam can be found at Westerstraat 187.

In the shop, you will find a lot more than just expensive furniture or lamps that are obviously too large for you to bring home as souvenirs.

At the Moooi shop in Amsterdam, you can find potential souvenirs such as:

• Exquisite art/design objects
• Accessories
• Gadgets
• Books

Items designed by Moooi have been inspired by Amsterdam’s rich history that will serve as a great reminder of this quirky city when you go back home and put them on display.

18.                Designs by Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh, one of Holland’s favorite sons, more than left his mark on Western culture. You can find souvenirs in Amsterdam that are inspired by the influential work of Van Goh.

One such location to find Van Gogh-inspired souvenirs is the Van Gogh Museum, located at Museumplein 6  in Amsterdam.  The museum has a multitude of interesting exhibits available to visitors including:

• Van Gogh’s masterpieces available in the galleries of the museum
• Special time-limited exhibits that are available to the public before the museum moves onto the next special exhibit
  • An example of a special exhibit is the “portraits and Self-Portraits” exhibit which shows what famous artists are saying about themselves with their self-portraits
• Guided Tours
• Private Tours

You can purchase Van Gogh-inspired items in the museum gift shop, and you can even sign up to have the items sent to your home rather than having to take the souvenir on a plane with you.

19.                Amsterdam Houses

Amsterdam is also famous for its canal houses. They are built-in with a peculiar design that makes them tall and narrow and they often have stairs with as many as 7-9 steps leading up to the front door due to flooding concerns.

When it comes to seeking out souvenirs that remind you of Amsterdam, you may have few better options than to go with tiny replicas of the Canal houses.

Replica canal houses can be found at shops throughout the city. One good shop to look for replica canal houses would be Souvenir Shop Baba B.V, located at Warmoesstraat 47-HS.

You will also probably be able to find Delft pottery replicas of the Amsterdam canal houses at the pottery shops mentioned earlier in this article.

Final Word

Regardless of which souvenir you decide to buy, make sure that you will be able to bring the item on a plane with you.

This is particularly the case with food items that may spoil easily or not be export compliant. Agricultural products like tulip bulbs may not be export compliant either.

• You can find out more about export compliance in this link.

• You will also need to make sure that you are not buying an item that you feel could easily break the way you plan to transport it.

• There are many shops where you can order the items you see while wandering the streets of Amsterdam online.

Some shops specifically geared towards tourists, such as the gift shop at the Van Gogh Museum, will allow you to sign up to have the items you purchase sent home to you without you having to worry about bringing the item on the plane with you.

Whatever the case may be, remember that these shops see tourists from around the world every day. Many of them will be specifically geared towards tourists who will be concerned about how they can get their souvenir safely across seas.