Kalverstraat

The Basics

Fashion and clothing are the main shopping draws on Kalverstraat, but you’ll also find specialty stores with food, art, and souvenirs. It’s a great place to stroll and take in the surroundings. Cafés and restaurants can be found whenever you need to take a break. A visit to the famous street is often included in walking tours of the city, and it is also a stop on hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The shopping street of Kalverstraat is a must-visit for shopaholics and visitors keen on soaking up local life.

• Kalverstraat is known as Amsterdam’s most expensive street, but stores sell goods at a variety of price points.

• The street is narrow, so expect the area to feel crowded.

• Many of the cafés and shops along the street have free Wi-Fi.

How to Get There

Kalverstraat is located right in the city center. It begins at Dam Square and ends at Munt Tower in Muntplein Square. Kalverstraat is a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station. Metro station Rokin (Line 52) is just off the street, and the No. 4, 14, and 24 trams also stop there.

When to Get There

Hours for individual shops vary, but generally they’re open during business hours Tuesday to Sunday, with late-night shopping on Thursday until 9pm and limited hours on Sunday and Monday. The street is typically busy with crowds, but it’s especially so on weekends.

A Place in History

Kalverstraat has witnessed many historic events. In 1345, a miracle was said to have taken place on the Rokin canal, and the Heilige Stede chapel was subsequently built on the site. Legendary Dutch painter Piet Mondrian lived in Kalverstraat 154 for three years in the late-19th-century. In 1945, drunk German soldiers shot and killed civilians celebrating their city’s liberation from the Nazis and the end of World War II.