Retail

Inside the design-savvy Kas Bank building in Amsterdam’s centre, X Bank provides an engulfing space for those who appreciate great products and thoughtful design. Its abiding mission is to highlight design and fashion brands with distinctly Dutch roots. From cedar-infused gin made in Amsterdam to Jackie Villevoye’s hand-embroidered collection, there are plenty of Dutch goods here to fill your suitcase. 

Moooi specialises in lighting, furniture and textiles, finishing most of its pieces with a flamboyant touch. If you’re not afraid of colour and appreciate humorous design, make sure you swing by. The firm, founded in 2001 by Marcel Wanders and Casper Vissers, exudes avant gardism and boldness. The duo enjoy blowing up proportions and putting their twist on traditional products. Brands such as Front, Studio Job and Arihiro Miyake are sold alongside Moooi’s in-house creations.

Victor ter Hark and Len Koster founded online menswear shop Afura in 2011 and opened this bricks-and-mortar outpost in 2016. The residential neighbourhood might seem an unconventional choice but, flanked by good cafés and inspiring architecture, it’s worth the trip. “We’re not a high street shop, our brands don’t suit that,” says Koster, noting that Afura is the only place in the Netherlands that sells some of the labels stocked here, such as Italian technical outerwear brand Aspesi and offerings from Japan and the US.

Designer Margriet Nannings has built a mini shopping empire on the Prinsenstraat: one shop for women, one for men and even an outlet for bargain hunters. The neighbouring shops are an extension of her personality. “I care for quality and unique designs but the colours and styles of other brands should complement each other as well,” says Nannings. That down-to-earth nature is apparent in the labels she stocks: APC, Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela and her own wares.

Terracotta pots, tiny cacti and house plants are artfully arranged around this lovely shop. A hub for urbanites wanting a bit of greenery for their homes, Wildernis demonstrates what is possible even in the smallest of spaces. “There’s a growing realisation that our city is getting busier and we have to take care of it and make sure the environment stays green for everyone,” says co-founder Mila van de Wall. “People are also realising that plants in the house are important for their health.”