The Best Markets in Amsterdam

Be sure to scroll down to see the full list of the best places to buy everything from seasonal blooms and Dutch cheese to local art and antique books.

Amsterdam's Best Market for Just About Anything

• Albert Cuyp MarketThis sensory-overload experience is a must for Amsterdam visitors who love bustling markets. The 100-year-old, open-air street market (the city's largest) features nearly 300 vendors selling everything from fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, spices, chocolate, cheese, flowers and plants to clothes, jewelry, shoes, bike accessories, bedding, fabrics and cosmetics -- basically, everything but the kitchen sink (but there are parts and gadgets for the kitchen sink). Prices are dirt-cheap, but product quality often reflects this, so beware. Flowers are less expensive here than at the famous Bloemenmarkt.
  Location: Albert Cuypstraat (in De Pijp neighborhood)
  Open: Year-round, Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Amsterdam's Best Flower Market

• BloemenmarktThis is Amsterdam's famous floating flower market, the only one of its kind in the world (the stalls are indeed "floating" on houseboats, but they are semi-permanent fixtures now). It caters to tourists, who flock to see thousands of blooms of every color and buy Dutch bulbs to take home.
  Location: Singel, between Koningsplein and Muntplein (Central Canal Belt)
  Open: Year-round, Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Amsterdam's Best Antiques, Collectibles and Flea Markets

• Waterlooplein Flea MarketAmsterdam's largest flea market is like 200 garage sales going on at once -- and the "neighborhood" is home to the posh and the tacky. It's easy to browse for hours in the maze of second-hand clothes, African drums, tie-dye shirts, antique rugs and furniture and bric-a-brac of all kinds. Unlike most markets in Amsterdam, bargaining isn't necessarily frowned upon here.
  Location: Waterlooplein (near the Stopera complex)
  Open: Year-round, Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Spui Book MarketBibliophiles will marvel at the endless tables and tents of this used and antique book market. Dealer collections run the gamut from biography, literature, poetry, and fantasy to art, history, psychology, and geography. While most books are from the Netherlands, some English and international titles are for sale, as well as antique maps, prints, and records.
  Location: Spui (between Kalverstraat and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal)
  Open: Year-round, Fridays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Noordermarkt Flea MarketWares at this popular market range from tote bags made from old World War II army gear to fine Asian antiques. Die-hard flea-market shoppers get here quite early, especially on Mondays.
  Location: Noordermarkt (next to the Noorderkerk in the Jordaan)
  Open: Year-round, Mondays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Antiekmarkt NieuwmarktIf you're frustrated by Amsterdam stores closed on Sundays, get your shopping fix at this popular antique and flea market.
  Location: Nieuwmarkt (in the Old City Center)
  Open: May - October, Sundays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Amsterdam's Best Farmers' Markets

• Boerenmarkt on NoordermarktAlongside the popular flea market on Noordermarkt is one of Amsterdam's biggest biologische (organic) farmers' markets. Local and regional growers sell fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, while organic bakers offer all-natural breads, cookies, and pastries. There are even stalls dedicated to organic olive oils, whole grains and various spice pestos. All these ingredients make for a beautiful, bustling display of colors and smells. It's a must if you're in the Jordaan on a Saturday.
  Location: Noordermarkt (next to the Noorderkerk in the Jordaan)
  Open: Year-round, Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Boerenmarkt on NieuwmarktMuch like its Jordaan cousin, this city-center farmers' market boasts mostly organic fare in the shadow of De Waag, a stunning, medieval building that once served as Amsterdam's gatehouse and then a weigh house (it's now a café). This market feels more spacious than the Noordermarkt one, although the areas surrounding the square are quite touristy.
  Location: Nieuwmarkt (in the Old City Center)
  Open: Year-round, Saturdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Amsterdam's Best Art Markets

The absence of galleries or agents at both of these markets keeps prices affordable and offers visitors a chance to interact with the artists. People are often surprised by the high quality of the work in such casual settings.

• Spui Art MarketAlso known as "Art Plein Spui," this favorite Amsterdam market in the heart of the city showcases the work of up to 25 professional artists (from a rotating group of 60), whose media include everything from oil, acrylic, watercolor, and etching to photography, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry.
  Location: Spui (between Kalverstraat and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal)
  Open: March - December, Sundays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Thorbeckeplein Modern Art MarketPaintings are the features of this Eastern Canal Belt market, which caters to those who prefer an abstract or modern look.
  Location: Thorbeckeplein (between Rembrandtplein and Herengracht)
  Open: Mid-March - October, Sundays 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.