Zuid

For real-deal pastel de nata and other Portuguese treats, make a beeline for Mister Nata (from €3).

VAN WOUSTRAAT 48, MISTERNATA.COM

Vondelpark Open Air Theatre

Vondelpark has been the city’s epicentre for culture and social life since the 1970s, with various shows, gigs and parties organised there. Every summer, the Open Air Theatre in the middle of the park loads up its programme with kids’ performances, theatre workshops, comedy, dance, opera and classical and pop concerts. You’ll find heaps going on every Saturday and Sunday (May until September).

VONDELPARK 5A

Het Massagehuys

Eastern massage meets Dutch design at this ‘massage house’, which combines traditional techniques with the contemporary feel of a luxury hotel spa. Everything’s tailored to your needs, from the sustainable tea to the all-natural oils you’ll be slathered in. Choose from several massages, including the signature Authentic Asian Massage, an intense Strong Muscle Massage and a soothing Stress Relief Massage (€75 for 50 minutes each).

CEINTUURBAAN 252, MASSAGEHUYS.NL

Any gourmand worth their chef’s apron must check out ZuiderMRKT. This cosy Saturday market presents farm-fresh and organic produce, almost exclusively grown in the Netherlands.

JACOB OBRECHTSTRAAT, ZUIDERMRKT.NL

Diamond Museum

Discover 400 years of diamond history and Amsterdam’s long heritage within the industry in Europe’s only Diamond Museum. The museum collections reveal the stories through films, jewellery, historical documents and the diamonds.

PAULUS POTTERSTRAAT 8 DIAMONDMUSEUM.COM

Occii

Not far from Vondelpark, OCCII is an independent and not-forprofit music venue known for its colourful Russian folk designs on the front doors, which hint at the building’s original purpose as a stable and tram depot. The gig agenda showcases a range of alternative musical genres, including noise, hardcore, acoustic, rave, electronic and punk acts, while Kinderpret hosts a fantastic kids’ theatre and workshop programme. Little ones might find themself immersed in shadow puppets, building giant foam structures in the courtyard garden, or settling down for an afternoon of tall tales and storytelling.

AMSTELVEENSEWEG 134, OCCII.ORG

These detailed 18-carat gold octopus cufflinks (€8,570 at Wiewel Goudsmeden) with South Sea keshi pearls are a rare find.

JACOB OBRECHTSTRAAT 27 WIEWELGOUDSMEDEN.NL

Hidden Shopping Street

Jacob Obrechtstraat

Head to this charming street behind Concertgebouw for distressed Italian sneakers at Golden Goose, impeccable pre-loved women’s designer fashion at Salon Heleen Hülsmann or premium footwear at Luuks. You’ll also find specialty coffee at CoffeeConcepts, beautiful handmade custom jewellery at Wiewel Goudsmeden and men’s cashmere suits at Jacob.

Insider Interview

Richard Jones (52), founder of Jones Brothers Coffee

As a 20-year coffee industry veteran, Richard Jones has been involved in every part of the coffee chain. ‘With Jones Brothers Coffee I set out to offer not only bettersourced, better-quality coffee, but also clearer communication about the journey of the humble bean. Our beans come from the usual coffeeproducing countries and some surprising ones, such as Thailand and East Timor,’ he says. Everything is roasted in-house at their cosy De Pijp location. There’s a takeaway bar at the front, where they ‘test coffees every day and give advice about flavours, roasting styles and grinding sizes for at-home use’. Richard’s favourite? ‘Horny Goat is a beautiful micro-lot coffee that truly represents all that is great about Ethiopian coffee.’

SINT WILLIBRORDUSSTRAAT 54

JONESBROTHERSCOFFEE.COM

COSMOPOLITAN