All the fabrics here are made from natural fibres, such as cotton woven in India. Staff spin the provenance of each fabric into the sale. A gem.

Dappermarkt is a locals' market: prices don't rise to match the number of visitors. It sells all the usual market fodder, and plenty of cheap clothes.

Translated, 'De Bijenkorf' means 'The Beehive' - an apt alias for this busy department store. Stationed in a grandiose building on Dam Square, this deluxe...

De Kasstoor is not your average modern Dutch interior design shop; it also has hand-picked collectors' pieces from the likes of Le Corbusier, Eames and...

Tassel maniacs go wild. A sea of shakeable frilly things, lace and rhinestone banding.

Mexican Mercado with a twist. Even the hardiest resistors of tat will love the colourful culinary and household objects (including wacky wallpapers).

Amsterdam's original - and arguably best - shopping centre is located in the beautiful nineteenth-century former post office building, situated just behind...

Metz is wonderful for upmarket gifts: designer furniture, glass and opulent accessories are all available. For lunch with a view, make for the top-floor...

All the pieces to round off your dream house: Missoni tea towels and throws, bone spoons for sampling caviar - all of life's little necessities.

'Pol's Pots'. Quite why a shop stocking innovative furnishings and home accessories should wish to associate itself with a genocidal mass-murderer remains a...

At this two-storey concept store, cool interiors collide with stylish lifestyle products - right up to the latest design books, fragrances and candies....

Live la vida loca with Mexican housewares. Olé!

The Boeken family has been in the rag trade, hawking fabrics since 1920. Just try to find somewhere else with the kind of variety on offer here: latex,...

V&D means good quality at prices just a step up from HEMA. There's a staggering array of toiletries, cosmetics, leather goods and watches, clothing and...