Officially this 'shop' is an opticians' museum, but don't let that put you off. The fascinating exhibits are of glasses through the ages, and most of the pairs you see are also...

Conscious Dreams was the original proponent of the smart drugs wave in Amsterdam. The staff here really know their stuff - the owner worked as a drugs adviser for five years -...

A very stylish, gay-friendly place designed by Atelier Hertogh. The Red Room is sexily scarlet and comes with a huge shower, big enough for an entire football team. The Blue...

Housed in a grand 17th-century canal house (and a location for the film Ocean's 12), the Cat Cabinet differs from Amsterdam's more notorious pussy palaces. It's a veritable...

Lambiek, founded in 1968, claims to be the world's oldest comic shop and has thousands of books from around the world; its on-site cartoonists' gallery hosts exhibitions every...

Artist Marcel has been letting rooms in his stylish 'creative exchange' since 1970. Chances are you'll run in to other artists or designers admiring the art on the walls. No...

Named after the only chess world champion the Netherlands has produced and occupying the city's old House of Detention - it held Resistance leaders in World War II - the Max...

This 'night theatre' has found its niche as a place where performance meets clubbing. Every night brings a show of some kind, be it photos, classical dancers, MCs in various...

Dreadlocks, spiral fluorescent designs, alternative lifestyles and plenty of cannabis. All four Rokerij outfits are central to the city's psychedelic trance and underground...

Live la vida loca with Mexican housewares. Olé!

Spoiled ups the ante at its fancy-pants new location on the Nine Streets with loads of fashion, art, weird gadgets, designer toys, a hair salon and a new jeans concept called...

The Torture Museum is just another of those Amsterdam tourist traps that should really have been more informative, engaging and - most importantly - fun. OK, torture museums...

Sitting atop an antique shop (which also serves as the hotel reception), this dinky place is nicely decorated with the odd piece from downstairs here and there. The attic room...