10 best vintage shops in Amsterdam

Do you need something “new”? Tania Pescador, an environmentally conscious fashion & lifestyle blogger, invites us to choose to buy pre-owned items to reduce the impact that fashion has on our planet. To make it easier, she shares her favourite shops with us. 

Amsterdam is a great place when it comes to vintage and second-hand shopping. From stores that offer very curated and handpicked collections, to flea markets where you need to dig deep to find that special garment.

Vintage shopping is "greener"

Vintage shopping offers not only the opportunity to get unique items that you won’t see on anyone else, but it is also a greener way of shopping. Let’s face it, the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world after oil. According to i-did, every year consumers and companies create 240 million kilograms of textile waste in the Netherlands alone!

The best shops in the Dutch capital

Whether you seek vintage finds because you are style-forward or because you are environmentally conscious, you are sure to find the most amazing shops in Amsterdam. I’ve listed my favourite right here:

1. Marbles vintage

You are sure to find something at one of their three stores around the city. I like the one in De Pijp the best, as it is more spacious and they have a good selection of fun vintage items, leather shoes, bags and accessories.

2. Rumors Vintage & Design

At this store, it is easy to browse around, as they categorise their clothes very well. They cater to both men and women and are located in the Haarlemmerbuurt, where you can find a lot of other vintage and concept stores. A good excuse to go to the west side of the city. 

3. BIS

Between Waterlooplein en Nieuwmarkt you can find BIS. And it is not one, but three shops next to each other with carefully selected vintage items for men and women. They have great quality pieces, so if you are looking for a collector's item, this is the right place to go.

4. Penny Lane Vintage

In this boutique, located in De Pijp, you can find hand-picked vintage items in great condition sold per kilogram. The best part? They serve coffee as well!

5. Bij Ons Vintage

Here, the speciality is the 70s and 80s, with lots of choices for both men and women at affordable prices. Their inventory is renewed very often, so if you snooze, you lose! Bij Ons Vintage has three shops, one in the Nine Streets, one on the Haarlemmerdijk, and one at the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.

6. Vintage 2.0

A bit out of the city centre, this shop is a real treat, with a small collection of carefully selected vintage items. The owner is super friendly and great at giving style advice. Her groovy music selection will have you shopping with ease.

7. Rosa Rosas Vintage

This is a hidden gem in Amsterdam. A small store filled with vintage dresses, shoes and accessories and second-hand clothes in good condition. Looking for something special? Ask the owner. She really knows what she has in her inventory and is very knowledgeable when it comes to vintage fashion.

8. Waterlooplein

At this daily flea market, you can find a good number of vintage fashion stalls and huge piles of second-hand clothes. You will be happy with the good prices you can find here. Start rifling!

9. De IJ-Hallen

The IJ-Hallen is a must-visit for any thrifter. It is one of the biggest flea markets in Europe, so take your time when you go there. Anything from furniture, clothing and toys can be found there. My tips: get there as early as possible if you want to get the best finds and wear comfy clothes, you will be walking for a long time!

10. Episode

With four shops across the city, I don't think they need an introduction. Episode is one of the biggest vintage and second-hand shops in Amsterdam and beyond, they also have shops in Rotterdam, Haarlem, The Hague and Utrecht. They offer lots of options for ladies and gents and you can score a pair of Dr. Martens, Levis and other well-known brands at reasonable prices.

Let's go shopping!

Now it's your time to browse through racks and piles of clothes to find those treasures. If you ask me, it is worth the effort! I’ve found some of my most loved items at these shops. 

Where do you go in Amsterdam to find your vintage items? Let us know in the comments section below!