Dutch design (also called Dutch Design) can be described as quirky, innovative and humorous, but at the same time it is sober, minimalist and also a bit extravagant. Until the 1980s, the Netherlands was primarily known for its graphic design. Dutch design quickly became a well-known term, especially in the 1990s when a group called Droog entered the Salon de Mobile in Milan. The heart of Dutch Design can be found in Mokum. See our list of favorites here.
Moooi
Utrechtsestraat 145-147
Best known for his Knotted Chair (1995), which he designed for the Droog label, Marcel Wanders is probably one of the best-known names in Dutch design. Moooi, about a fifteen-minute walk from Amsterdam Central, is the design label of Marcel Wanders (formerly Wanders Wonders). It's a good place to start your design tour. Wanders is still very much involved as a product designer and owner. He creates playful, distinctive designs ranging from lighting and furniture to accessories.
When we mention Moooi, we should also mention Maarten Baas. Another prominent Dutch designer, Maarten Baas attended Eindhoven's Design Academy. While he was still studying, his Knuckle candlestick was put into production. Maarten Baas graduated in 2002 with the now widely known Smoke and Clay series. For the smoke series, Maas burned furniture pieces and treated them with a special coating to make them perfectly usable again. The Smoke series has been purchased for several permanent collections of leading museums around the world (Victoria & Albert Museum, Groninger Museum and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts) and is also part of the Moooi collection.
X BANK
Spuistraat 172
Right next to Hotel W we find X BANK, a self-proclaimed treasure trove of Dutch design. And it is quite impressive we must say. With over 700 square meters and more than 180 Dutch design labels, there is something here for everyone. They also host events and exhibitions here.
The Frozen Fountain
Prinsengracht 645
One of the stores that first offered these designers' collections was The Frozen Fountain, another Dutch design center in town. The store has been in Amsterdam since the 1980s, but first sat in a different location. It all started with an idea by Dick Dankers, who wanted to bring designers and craftsmen together in a beautiful and original collection. The big break came in the 1990s when they started selling one-off items and limited editions by now top designers such as Piet Hein Eek, Jurgen Bey, Marcel Wanders, Ineke Hans, Hella Jongerius and Studio Job. At the time, Piet Hein Eek had released his now famous (and horribly copied) cabinet made from scrap wood. The range of scrap wood items and renewed old materials was the beginning of a whole new direction in the world of Dutch (and international) design. Not only will you find furniture at The Frozen Fountain, but the works of great Dutch photographers are also on display at this amazing store.
WonderWood
Russia 3
When we talk about Dutch Design, we cannot forget WonderWood (a store and gallery in one). Here you can discover the wonderful world of wood in design, furniture, art, gadgets and new talents. WonderWood has a wide and interesting collection of vintage chairs and tables from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. In addition to the rare originals, they also sell re-makes of well-known designer furniture, the so-called plywood classics. You will also find new design pieces by Dutch designers such as Richard Hutten, Aldo Bakker and Jeroen Wand to name a few. Tip: Don't forget to look at the 1565 ceilings. Although they are more than 450 years old, they are still in good condition.
Hotel Dry
Steel Street 7a
Anyone who knows anything about Dutch design knows Droog. It was founded in 1993 by Gijs Bakker and Renny Ramakers when they first entered the Salon de Mobile in Milan and presented their Droog design. The name refers to the simplicity and dry sense of humor of the objects they brought to the Salon de Mobile. They created quite a stir in the media with objects like a chair made of rags, the chest of drawers and a milk bottle lamp by designer Tejo Remy. They brought ironic design, as a counter-movement against all the serious Scandinavian design going on in the world at the time.
Municipal Museum
Museum Square 10
Walking south, you can't miss the Stedelijk Museum, which has a number of icons of Dutch design in its collection, including Marcel Wanders' Knotted Chair and Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue Chair. In collaboration with one of the biggest names in Dutch Design, Rem Koolhaas, the Stedelijk Museum has created a permanent collection known as Stedelijk BASE. Koolhaas is the founding partner of architecture firm OMA and its research-oriented counterpart AMO. It is housed in a 1340 m2 basement previously used for temporary exhibitions.
Store Without A Name
Haarlemmerdijk 26
On Haarlemmerdijk, you can't just walk past Winkel zonder naam. It originally started as a pop-up store. Wandering the city, it finally found a permanent home on Haarlemmerdijk. The store sells affordable pieces of design. They have a wide range of Dutch designs, such as ceramics by Lammers & Lammers. Or you might like the Storytiles, which reference typical Dutch tiles but have their own illustrations. They also have a wide selection of animal-related artwork here, such as rugs, paper artwork and stuffed animals.
Cousin Louis
Poppy Road 46
Although Amsterdam Noord is a bit out of the direction of these other stores, it is well worth the ferry ride. Cousin Louis is a household name in the city of Amsterdam. Producers go there to decorate their sets, and numerous restaurants borrow items from here to resell at their location. They have everything from a real station clock to real vintage chairs, cabinets and more; you never know what you'll run into here.
North Market
Mondays 09:00-13:00
Monday is probably not your favorite day of the week, but this may change if you head to the Jordaan between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. At the Noordermarkt, chances are you'll come across some stunning Dutch design. Some of the stands sell premium vintage furniture. A little insider tip, check the stalls near café Finch are there you sometimes just score some Dutch design.
The appeal of Dutch Design?
So, what is so special about Dutch Design? Author and journalist Tracy Metz explains that "the Dutch have the ability to fool themselves and the stubbornness to combine things that usually don't combine." We see this in all these stores and places during this little Dutch Design tour. We hope you enjoy visiting our suggestions! Keep an eye on our page for more cool stores, cool concept stores and special markets.