The quick choice
| Place | Best for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Magna Plaza | visiting a building, a few shops, a café | behind the Royal Palace |
| De Bijenkorf | department store, fashion and beauty | Dam 1 |
| Gelderlandplein | a real neighbourhood mall | Buitenveldert, in the south |
| Outlets (Lelystad, Leidschendam) | discounted brands | outside Amsterdam |
Magna Plaza and De Bijenkorf
Magna Plaza (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182) occupies the former neo-Gothic post office. Entry is free; since the pandemic several shops have closed and the visit is mostly architectural. Indicative hours: Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 to 19:00, Thursday 10:00 to 21:00, Sunday 11:00 to 19:00. De Bijenkorf (Dam 1) is the main department store: Monday 11:00-21:00, Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-21:00, Sunday 10:00-20:00. The nearby streets are covered in shopping in Amsterdam.
Gelderlandplein and the outlets
The Gelderlandplein, in the south of the city, is the classic shopping mall; the centre gives Sunday hours of 12:00 to 17:00. For outlets there are two options outside Amsterdam: an outlet in Lelystad and the big centre in Leidschendam, near The Hague. Journeys take over half an hour: check the route, hours and shops on each centre's website before you go; we could not confirm their data.
Sunday, tax refund and payment
- Sunday: most shops in the centre open, generally 12:00 to 17:00 or 18:00; Thursday is late-opening evening.
- Tax refund: outside the EU, €50 minimum per shop, digital request at the till then validation with the NL Customs VAT app when you leave the EU; details in tax refund in Amsterdam.
- Payment: card and contactless almost everywhere; see money and tipping.
- Hotel: to stay near the centre, see where to stay in Amsterdam.
