Made In Amsterdam: A Super Local Souvenir Tour

Discover the city centre of Amsterdam on a shopping tour that will show you three uniquely local shops that are worth your browsing time! But this is more than just a shop till you drop experience. You won’t just hunt for locally produced goods, you’ll get to speak directly with the shop owners and learn the stories behind their unique, fun and responsible products. Every stop on this two-hour Amsterdam tour offers a historical connection, a responsible focus, and authentic local inspiration. 

You might pick up a locally produced craft item or maybe a handmade t-shirt. The portrait photograph from the studio is included in the tour price, so you’ll definitely have at least one memorable keepsake from your Urban Adventures experience! Please note that we receive no commission from any sales that are made on this tour, so you can be sure that the money you spend is going directly back to support local, independent artists.

The first shop we visit will be in the Red Light District, a neighbourhood under transformation and with hundreds of years of history as a commercial hub. Today, the district is a shopping gem, and we’ll walk through the tiny streets and meet a few entrepreneurs who have decided to invest in this colourful area. We’ll make our way to a local store that produces items made from waste — their main material being salvaged and recycled bicycle parts. This shop is run in partnership with a social reinsertion project set up by the Dutch government for refugees and prisoners, and the owners work with various institutions to sell goods created by disadvantaged locals. These artists are paid per piece, and the program is a stepping stone to help them rebuild their lives in the local community. 

We will then cross the Dam Square to meet our second shop owner, for a novelty gift with historic flair. Located behind the New Church in the heart of the city, we’ll find a portrait photography studio that has been named one of the top tourist attractions by local newspaper poll — but it’s definitely not a tourist trap! Many of the local shops in the area have photos of themselves taken in this very portrait studio – it’s fast becoming a city-wide institution. There’s also a lot of local tradition in portrait art — the Dutch were one of the leaders in portraits, and you’ll discover yourself how important this art form is to local culture. 

Finally, we’ll finish things off in the Jordaan area, meeting our last merchant. We’ll visit a small company that sells responsibly made and locally designed/printed t-shirts. The shirts are from organic materials, and the shop operates on a small, local scale, thereby avoiding the constraints that come with being a bigger manufacturing company. The Dutch have a clouded — if not outright hostile — history when it comes to the production of goods, and we’ll discuss this, as well as how the Dutch are being proactive in the 21st century with respect to fair trade.