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ELLE travels Amsterdam
Picturesque Amsterdam's historic setting belies the city's liberal outlook and cutting-edge style.
By Shawna Wagman
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Where
Famous for its tree-lined canals, cozy coffee shops and red-light district, the Dutch capital is also a centre for cutting-edge architecture and design.
Your guide
Fashion designer Analik Brouwer, 36, outfits Amsterdam's artistic avant-garde -- body and soul. Her boutique and B & B showcase chic clothing, updated vintage furniture, home accessories, art and photography.
The vibe
"Very laid-back -- it's a relaxed city where you can do anything you want," says Brouwer of the city's gezellig (friendly and informal) atmosphere. "What makes it interesting is that it has two streams running against each other -- the old-style Amsterdam that is quaint, and a new modern thing with lots of cool events like Amsterdam International Fashion Week in January and July."
Big picture
The centre of Amsterdam is compact and easy to get around on foot or -- like the locals -- by bike. Don't miss out on the Hermitage Amsterdam and Van Gogh museums, Hortus Botanicus (one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world) and The Anne Frank House. You'll no doubt be charmed by the cobbled streets and colourful 17th-century townhouses, but don't be fooled into thinking this city is stuck in the past. The Dutch are happy to embrace all things daring and different. The Eastern Docklands area -- the Stedelijk Museum's temporary home -- has had an extraordinary makeover, with contemporary canal houses and housing developments, as well as the Bimhuis, a music theatre specializing in jazz, and the new wave-shaped cruise-ship Passenger Terminal designed by Larry Malcic.
Style
"Everybody's really into fashion," says Brouwer. "The style used to be very casual, with lots of second-hand clothing, but now the younger crowd has made high-street fashion the main thing. Girls wear H&M and Zara -- it's almost a uniform of jeans and small jackets. The big names -- Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton -- are on PC Hooftstraat." Van Ravenstein -- the only designer boutique in Amsterdam that stocks clothing by local designers Viktor & Rolf -- is on Keizersgracht. "But for me, the best place to shop is De Negen Straatjes, or The Nine Streets," says Brouwer. Crossing the three main canals, the lively neighbourhood is brimming with bakeries, galleries, cool cafés and fashionable shops. "One of my favourites is Lady Day, a great place for army jackets, sweaters and kimonos," says Brouwer of the famous vintage store with designer stash from the '50s, '60s and '70s. "And I always find really nice vintage pieces at Laura Dols -- beautifully constructed woollen winter coats, princess-style dresses, as well as little handbags and track suits."
What to bring
"Good shoes for walking, an umbrella and -- if you hire a car -- lots of coins to put in the parking meter. It costs a fortune if your car gets clamped!"
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