Dam Square
This is one of the busiest places in the city. Storks used to walk around Dam Square in the old days, to eat the fish refuse. Some 400 years ago this was already a busy trading place and the location of the fish market. If you stand on the steps of the National Monument, with your back towards it, you will see the renowned department store (the Beehive) on your right.

Rokin
To the left of the monument Rokin begins, the Amsterdam Diamond Center is at the corner. This street is known for its exclusive cigar shop Hajenius, and the upmarket department store Maison de Bonneterie.

Magna Plaza
The Magna Plaza is situated just behind the Royal Palace. This shopping centre is housed in what used to be the General Post Office, and is on the National Heritage list. This stunning building has been transformed into a super-deluxe department store, with several exclusive shops under one roof.

Tips for a coffee break
Cafe Scheltema Restaurant, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 242. Traditional literary cafe. Cafe Van Daele, corner Paleisstraat-Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. A small, popular brown cafe. Cafe Ovidius, coffee-brasserie cafe restaurant located on the ground floor in Magna Plaza.

The Jordaan
Its rich historical background makes this quarter one of the most agreeable areas of the city. The Jordaan is a seventeenth-century working class district with its own traditions and its own informal and relaxed atmosphere with narrow streets, picturesque canals, brown cafes, art galleries and unique shops.

Especially in the streets which connect the three main canals -
Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht - you will find a lot of interesting, sometimes amusing, shops. Take a walk, for example, through the following streets. Starting from Dam Square you walk along the left side of the Royal Palace, just follow the Paleisstraat, and keep walking. When you cross the first bridge across the Singel you are in Gasthuismolensteeg. On the right at number 7 you will see the BrilmuseumBrillenwinkel, offering an unequalled collection of bizarre, outrageous, stylish, extravagant and classical spectacles.

Two bridges further in Reestraat number 22 you will find another remarkable shop. If you are looking for some unusual gift paper or a special type of writing paper Cortina Papier, with the largest product range in Holland is the place for you. This store regularly organises expositions of artists who work with paper. Next door, at number 20, scented oils and incense, but mainly candles are sold. You have never seen so many different types of candles before.

You have now arrived at Prinsengracht. Turn left until you reach the next bridge across Prinsengracht. If you cross the bridge you'll walk straight into Norman Automatics where you will feel as if you have stepped back into the fifties. You are sure to find something special here to suit your taste. If you do not cross the bridge but turn left into Berenstraat, you will quite soon see Galerie Animation Art on your right-hand side, where you can buy cartoon art and gifts, while a little further down the street you can look at art while having your hair cut in beauty parlour and gallery KunstHaar.

The Jordaan is mainly known for its small specialised shops. After the next bridge - you are now in Wolvenstraat - you will see the Knopenwinkel on the left-hand side at number 14. This shop sell buttons, nothing but buttons, a staggering variety of buttons.

At the end of the bridge at Herengracht turn right and right again. You are now walking through Huidenstraat, the next street is Runstraat, where the Witte Tanden Winkel is situated at number 5. This shop sells a huge variety of toothbrushes.