Shopping takes a large part of any vacation. Everyone is pleased to bring souvenirs and gifts to friends and family from the trip and remember the best moments of the trip with a glass of the national drink. What and where to buy in the Netherlands and what rules should you follow so that purchases will please their owner for a long time? What subtleties of shopping in Holland are worth knowing, and are there any universal tips for fans of this type of vacation?
Choosing a store
Dutch shops are striking in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are huge designer outlets and tiny souvenir shops with authentic goods. In the country of windmills, flea markets are noisy and antiques shops hide behind inconspicuous doors. Small towns and huge cities are ready to offer their guests all the best that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is proud of.
Useful little things
- The vast majority of Dutch shops are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am. On Monday they start working closer to noon. Closing hours are 17.30-18.00, except Thursday, when shopping can be delayed until 9 pm. Sunday is most often a day off, and therefore it is not recommended to postpone shopping in Holland until the very end of the week.
- Big sales, during which it makes sense to count on decent discounts, happen after the Christmas holidays and in the middle of summer.
- The most popular shops for shopping in Holland among locals are M&S, H&M, C&A, Steps, Cool Cat, Miss Etam and WE. The assortment in them is updated several times per season, the goods are produced in small batches, and therefore you can count on good quality and even some exclusivity. In addition, the assortment of these stores is designed for a wide variety of age categories and a wide range of sizes.
- Department stores of the Bijenkorf chain can be classified as fashionable, and Hema as traditional with reasonable prices and pleasant quality.
VAT refund
When purchasing goods worth more than 50 euros, foreign tourists can always count on a refund of value added tax in the customs control zone at the exit from the country. In order for 17.5% of what was spent to return to the family budget, you will have to keep the purchases packaged and attach cash receipts to them.
