The essentials
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | Sugarcity Ring 1, 1165 PB Halfweg (between Amsterdam and Haarlem) |
| Train | Sprinter from Amsterdam Centraal to Halfweg-Zwanenburg, about 10 minutes, up to 4 times an hour |
| Walk from the station | about 5 minutes |
| Car | A200, near the A9 junction |
| Hours | Monday-Thursday 10:00-18:00; Friday-Sunday 10:00-20:00 (iAmsterdam) |
| Shops | over 100 (a local guide says about 70) |
| Parking | free per one source, 1.50 EUR an hour per another: check |
Which brands you will find
Fashion and sportswear are the strong points: Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Guess, Nike, Adidas and home brands such as Le Creuset, with recent additions like Marc O'Polo, Wellensteyn, Mephisto and Sissy Boy. Stock changes: the full list is on the centre's website.
Is it worth the trip
Yes if you want international fashion and sports brands at lower prices and have half a day. No if you want Dutch designer fashion: stay in the city-centre streets, see shopping in Amsterdam and malls and outlets.
Tips
- Outside the EU a tax refund is possible: the rules are in VAT refund in Amsterdam.
- Plan your train home before the end-of-month weekend, when trains are busier.
- To sleep, see where to stay in Amsterdam.
What is uncertain
The number of shops, the parking price and the hours differ between sources. On public holidays special hours apply: check the official site before you leave.
