FEATURE

AMSTERDAM
BY MEGANNE FABREGA

Wander the Dutch metropolis for craft-related treasures.

Amsterdam isn’t all canals and bicycles! The city has lots of stores, galleries, markets, and museums that cater to a crafter’s every whim. Don’t forget to pack your walking shoes — this city is best explored on foot to appreciate its irresistible charm.

 

Noordermarkt Corner of Westerstraat and Lijnbaansgracht Mondays 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.

When planning your trip to Amsterdam, be sure to schedule it around this must-see open market. Stalls are bursting at the seams with bolts of fabric from plain cotton to vibrant silks, plus buttons, notions, trims, tassels, and any other sewing materials a crafter could ever need. At the end of the market, the fun continues with a flea market featuring lots of vintage clothes, as well as crafters like Stoffen en Sloffen ( stoffenensloffen.nl), who sell vintage aprons, handmade bags, and hard-to-find bedding from the 60s and 70s. Be prepared to fight the crowd to get your one-of-a-kind bag.

Food Match: Head on over to Café ’t Smalle on the corner of Egelantiersgracht and Prinsengracht for a canal view and some appeltaart mit slagroom (apple cake with whipped cream).

Meganne Fabrega is a freelance writer and knitter in Portsmouth, N. H. Her work has appeared in Publisher’s Weekly and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Photography by Meganne Fabrega