Earlier this week, I introduced you to the Kalverstraat and the Leidsestraat. Today, we continue with the 9 Straatjes and the P.C. Hooftstraat! Enjoy!

The 9 Straatjes

The street names of the 9 Straatjes (Image by JSpijker at Wikimedia Commons under license CC BY-SA 3.0)

De 9 Straatjes. Since the 90s, an essential part of the Amsterdam shopping experience. The “9 little streets”, as 9 straatjes translates, house smaller, special shops, which complement the more mainstream, bigger brands you can find for example in the Kalverstraat. This shopping area has become so important already to rival the more famous ones. Located parallel to the Leidsestraat, the 9 straatjes are located very centrally, and are a secret tip on just a few minutes walking from both the Kalverstraat and the Leidsestraat.

The straatjes connect the prestigious Prinsen-, Keizer-, and Herengracht and the Singel.

What can I buy here?

Green: the Leidsestraat. Blue circle: the Dam. Yellow: the Kalverstraat. Red: the 9 straatjes (Map data by Google, ©2015 Google)

Many small shops and boutiques offer a great variety of items. The website lists all shops. The list includes shops like Vans and Timberland, but also many less-known ones like NicNic or Van Ravenstein.

By the way…

• Nobody thought that De 9 Straatjes was a good name for the shopping area, but Djoeke Wessing, who had the idea, insisted on the name. It has become more memorable and iconic now that it has established itself.
• There is an unofficial tiende straatje (tenth street), the Hazenstraat. Much like the 9 straatjes, many small shops and restaurants are located here.

The P.C. Hooftstraat

The P.C. Hooftstraat as seen from the side of the Stadhouderskade (Image by Massimo Catarinella at Wikimedia Commons under license CC BY 3.0)

Located a bit off from the main shopping streets and areas, the Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat, If you want to buy something extravagant this year for yourself or a loved one, and you come to Amsterdam with filled pockets, then you will most likely love the P.C. Hooftstraat. It is expensive, yes, but it is also rated the world’s third nicest shopping street!

What can I buy here?

From Hermès, Louis Vitton and Chanel to Cartier and Tiffany’s & Co., if a shop makes you think “fancy”, it is most likely located at the P.C. Hooft.

Orange: The P.C. Hooftstraat (Map data by Google, ©2015 Google)

By the way…

• The P.C. are the initials of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, a 16th century Dutch playwright, historian and poet, who the street was named after in 1876.
• The street had its own TV Show, in which the people of the street are presented: Bij ons in de PC. Here an episode:

I hope you enjoyed this list of streets, and I hope it can help you the next time you are visiting Amsterdam! Happy holidays, and Merry Christmas!