A Designer's Guide to Amsterdam
Haarlem --> Amsterdam
Good Morning! Last week we spent the week in the Netherlands for some R&R before a super busy summer working on some really exciting new projects! Amsterdam seemed like the obvious choice but we switched it up and made Haarlem our home base..an unexpected, very good choice.
A Designer's Guide to Amsterdam
One of our best friends always asks..’Do you want an OOOOH, or an AHHHH Vacation?!’ We love that..meaning do you want to be wowed with activities and sites or relax and be leisurely?
We were craving a semi-AHHHH vacation after Japan (See our Japan Guide Here), but still crave culture and honestly don’t do well with sitting on a beach for more than 1 day.. So, we went to the Netherlands, and we highly recommend being based in Haarlem as opposed to Amsterdam!
We didn’t pack in activities like a typical European vacation, but instead wanted to savor slow mornings and kind of have a staycation vibe..just not in Brooklyn.
And when we wanted a little more excitement, Amsterdam was a short 20-minute train away. Both cities are worth your time, but Haarlem was a nice respite from crowds and maybe less talked about.
SEE & DO
Haarlem
Our favorite thing was to have a coffee early before the town is up around 8 a.m., and just find pretty doorways to take pictures of. One of the most beautiful surprises was how overgrown and lush the city was.
Bakenessergracht
– A really lovely neighborhood of Haarlem, just walk around.. it’s peaceful.
The Grote Markt – We stayed right next to the square. The Gothic St. Bavo Church and Renaissance-style City Hall are here and felt like we were living in a gingerbread town.
The Saturday market here is the kind of market where you’ll find handmade crafts and fresh produce and flowers
You know we love a garden..Go find some of these secret courtyards. The Dutch word 'hofje' refers to hidden courtyards surrounded by almshouses. Theres 21 of them throughout Haarlem<3
Haircut? Go to Rob Peetoom Hair Salon in Haarlem. Lucky us New Yorkers, the most talented stylist Drew Schaefering (@drewschaefering), is actually based in the Williamsberg salon, and was just in the Netherlands educating for a few weeks. So, you don’t have to go to Europe like we did..
If you're there, every other Saturday, don’t miss the Antique Market at Dreef! Over 90 stalls of antiques, and really a great selection of furniture, ceramics, clothes etc…!
Amsterdam
The Van Loon Museum – Our favorite place on the trip, must see! We always make time for house museums, and this one is worth it. The fabric walls with matching drapes and bedding, marble mouldings, and hand painted divider screens still feel relevant today. Contemporary American painter Kehinde Wiley, who famously painted Obama’s portrait, had an exhibition up through August 31.
The Rembrandt House Museum – Another interesting house museum
It felt right to do this in Amsterdam..so we caught Rufus Du Sol concert at AFAS Live, and Wow.
If you're craving a little beach escape, take a 15-minute train ride to Zandvoort. We had lunch at Hippie Fish, and it felt like a mini Tulum or something..very big and nice beaches
SHOPPING
Haarlem
We were not prepared for the amount of vintage/second hand shops there are here. They were uncrowded and honestly really well curated and organized than ones here in New York. Heres some good ones..
Stijlloods Vof – Definitely a favorite in Haarlem. It’s a large, bright space with a curated selection of designer clothes.
Vintage Asylum – If you like mid-century furniture,, this is your spot. Definitely a few pieces we wished fit in our suitcases.
Modemetier – Some really good leather jackets and designer pieces.
Drugstore Van der Pigge – Not vintage, but it’s still worth going in here. This 6th-generation family owned store is full of natural holistic remedies and inside a beautiful historic building. Just a cool spot to check out.
Amsterdam
THANK YOU Substack community for your recommendations. Here’s what we came up with when we asked the ladies in the
Magasin Chat, along with all of your direct messages! Beyond helpful.Furniture
Juki Amsterdam - Some great scandanavian mid century furniture pieces.
Mobilia - A really pretty showroom and interiors studio you should go see.
Clothes
Bis! - Especially for men, but awesome military style clothes.
Carmen Amsterdam – Not only does this store have incredible pieces, but they also have a guest house you can stay in. It’s tucked away in a beautiful residential area and honestly feels more like you’re living here, not just visiting.
Laura Dols – Great partywear and wedding accessories..even wedding dresses.
Enso Vintage – The clothes are definitely a cool selection, but we love the store's interior design too, which is what stood out the most.
Some others listed..
Nho girl (by appointment, just dm them)
Penny Lane Vintage (lots of good coats)
For new clothing, these are the ones you don’t want to miss..
Rika Studios – Beautifully crafted pants with a masculine sailor fit we were obsessed with. Plus, they ship worldwide.
Afura – Has unique brands from all over the world.
Reyem – Recommended by the Magasin community..very good wardrobe staples and pretty store.
EAT & DRINK
Haarlem
Great bakeries, proper English tea houses, and coffee..
La Maru – Their almond croissant/cinnamon bun hybrid is famous and was truly amazing.
Café Samabe – A Michelin guide spot that’s actually affordable and gives you a taste of an Indonesian tasting menu. Was very full even with the smallest tasting option.
Artesano Bakkerji – A little gem for coffee and pastries.
Mama Mojo - will seal the deal. The sandwiches are amazing, but the real star here is their pickled everything..kimchi, pineapple, and other toppings that we didn’t know we needed.
Amsterdam
Honestly didn’t try too much food here BUT…
Dumplings (address) – Don’t even think about skipping this. We don’t even know the name..is it just Dumplings? It’s Chinese dumplings from a food truck that’s 100% worth the hype. You won’t regret it.
De Mark – A gem 20 minutes outside the city on the water. Such a pretty little place and worth trekking to for the food and view
Gertrude - Was highly recommended to us but didn’t make it, someone send pics!
Cue – A Japanese Listening Bar in Amsterdam WITH Michelin guide food?
STAY
In Haarlem, we had the pleasure of staying in a friend’s apartment right in the center of town, and it couldn’t have been a better location for us. Super central right next to Grote Market. If you’re not staying with friends, there are plenty of boutique stays along the canals that would be so cute.
In Amsterdam, we would love to stay at De L'Europe Amsterdam for something a bit more luxurious.. And like we mentioned earlier, Carmen Amsterdam could be a really amazing guest house concept to experience.
Happy travels!
Shop Where We Shop
Clean Slate…
Moodboard by: Cola Studios
Shop our selections below!
The Balmer Sofa by Lulu and Georgia in Talc Performance Linen combines a clean-lined silhouette with thick, overstuffed cushions for deep, comfortable seating.
Strict Rayures area rug from the So Much Fun Collection by Claude Cartier Studio for cc-tapis. Claude Cartier brings her refined sense of craftsmanship to this collection of rugs, featuring graphic, joyful, and colorful patterns punctuated by geometric stripes like musical notes.
Cactus Side Table by Melbourne-based designer Michael Gittings. Using industrial processes, Gittings welds, weaves, grinds, pours, and grows metal into striking functional forms.
Ceramic Wall light designed by Géraldine Cornette de Saint-Cyr for Pradier-Jeauneau, 2023.
Paloma Coffee Table, designed by Giancarlo Valle: Crafted from wire-brushed white oak and handmade in New York City.
The UT#001 Lounge Chair, part of the Borderland collection and designed by Sing Chan, reinterprets Pierre Jeanneret's furniture. It features a lower-than-usual seat height and a comfortable incline, embodying a minimalist, almost "design-free" aesthetic.
The Metronome Reading Floor Lamp by Apparatus evokes the measure and balance of its namesake. A patinated brass sphere perches atop the conical base, which is hand-wrapped in suede to provide a lush tactile contrast.
What’s Happening
What’s to see…
Pierre Augustin Rose opens its debut US gallery in SoHo, the brand’s only location outside of Paris offering access to its full collection. Open Monday–Friday 10:30 AM–6:00 PM.
