Amsterdam has it all as far as shopping is concerned from the big brands to hip little boutiques. A recent survey of the Best Cities to Shop in Europe, placed Amsterdam in a respectable 8th place. For standard international fashion like H&M and Footlocker take a stroll down the pedestrian Kalverstraat. If you can afford such names as Vuitton, Bulgari and Chanel then drive your Ferrari over to P.C. Hooftsraat in the Museum Quarter. Antique lovers will find a whole street lined with shops selling old maps, books, Delft tiles, furniture and art at Nieuwe Spiegelstraat leading up to the Rijksmuseum and shoppers who prefer small, yet trendy boutiques, family-run delicatessens and a generally fun street devoid of international chains should walk the length of the Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk. You can also find all kinds of interesting exotic sauces, spices and kitchenware in Chinatown near the Nieuwmarkt and funky interior design elements on Overtoom in West.

Tax free
If you're a resident of a non-EU member state, you're eligible to take advantage of tax free shopping while visiting the Netherlands. If you spend over €50 at any shop displaying the Global Refund 'Tax Free' logo, they can issue you with a special Refund Cheque when you pay. When you leave the EU just show the item you purchased and relevant paperwork to a customs official, who will give you the necessary stamps. You can then receive cash or credit at any of the many Global Refund Offices around the world. At Schiphol Airport are 3 locations:
Lounge 2/Departures, Gate E, ABN AMRO, Counter 1
Departures 3/Landside, behind check-in desk 22
Lounge 3/Non-Schengen Area, departures 3 Airside
More information at www.global-blue.com.