Selection seemed small but compare to the US, prices were cheaper. Not as cheap as Italy, but still…read morebetter! Employees were nice and said hello upon entering. They also went out of their way to show me suggestions for what I was shopping for. Didn't find exactly the wallet I liked, but they were very nice, welcoming, non-judgmental despite being in scruffy vacation outfits.

Great staff!! I wanted a special bag and the service rep even held it for me when I said I would…read morereturn the next day. They gave me flavored sparkling water while I looked around the store as well.

Oh my gosh, what is not to love about this place. I love discovering new places when I'm in…read moreforeign countries, and this is one I kept wanting to go back to the whole time we were in Amsterdam! I swear, it's just a huge department type store, but again, there's just something about the newness of it to me that made it so great. For those of you from the states, to me, it reminded me a bit of a mix between a Target and a major department store. A bit of everything at affordable prices. We stopped in here a few times for a few things we needed on our trip and even once for a snack. I am a huge lover of smoked meats and cheese, so when we saw that we could get their famous smoked sausage on a roll for £2 and an ice cream sundae for £1 we were all about it and quite happy for it. One thing I miss living in the UK are smoked meats and sausages. Proper smoked meats and sausages. This really hit the spot. I was really tempted to buy stuff to bring back for my home in Glasgow, but figured it would be a pain to drag everything back when I could just get stuff once I got home if I wanted. Instead, I bought a really cool green ink pen for uni, some stroop waffles for the boyfriend and some candles for a birthday we were celebrating while in Amsterdam! Definitly a fan of Hema and will shop here again if ever given the chance!

The HEMA is absolutely famous in Holland. In the cities you can find one at every corner of the…read morestreet, and every village has one as well. The Hema is not only a warehouse, its more.. It is a customer-friendly store with an unique profile. HEMA distinguishes itself from other retailers by selling its own brand. Every day, week and/or month you can find new offers on products for daily use, all with its own assortment. HEMA products are convenient, practical, attractive and of good quality. It even got to a point that HEMA became a fashion icon, with Dutch celebrities starting to wear basic t-shirts with nothing but the red HEMA line on it.. While living abroad, the HEMA is definitely absent in the German streets..How can people live without it??!! Im sure the Dutch cant... It will fit perfectly.. with Germany being famous for the Wurst...Well, at the HEMA we sell the famous `Rookworst`!

This is a very nice Hema in Utrecht. In the centrum right on the canal. It has two floors with…read moreescalators but not cramped at all. Most Hema's are large and very open space but this one takes it a step further. Doors in the front and back are a nice feature as well...plus with better ventilation. Hot food and drinks. Lots of wine and beer (to go) too! What's not to like. They had every kind of stroopwafel I didn't even know existed! Lots of candies and cakes too. Lekker! They do have everything from bike parts to socks as well. Of course things are a bit different during Corona times, but let's hope Hema keeps these big stores in expensive areas open. Worth checking out when you're right in the center and a 10 minute walk from the train station (through the mall).

Is this a Target or Walmart? It seems like a commercial department store. Were still in search of…read moreextra socks and underwear. This store has a full service coffee and pastry shop near the entrance. Four floors were too many for me at this point - feet are killing me from walking. Very nice organized store with an abundance if tourists, but no sale for me today.

Spoiler alert: I am not a local. I'm in the Netherlands for an event and decided to make a trip of…read moreit, so I am spending a lot of time poking around. Instead of (ahem--in addition to) the usual souvenirs, I wanted to pick up some clothing items, so I have been popping into clothing stores here and there. Depending on which location you go to, Hema might be mostly clothing or more of a department store. Either way, you'll find staples at good prices. If disaster has befallen you and your last few clean shirts? Hema has you covered. The disaster happened to be your shampoo or gel exploding? Hema. I really like the dressing room situation--most locations have an attendant to guide you to an open cubicle when you have found what you want to try on and take any items that didn't work out when you're done.

I love the HEMA it's kinda like Target in the US but on a smaller scale. They have everything from…read moremake-up to some basic clothing, photo development, bike supplies, art and back to school items, etc. The most exciting thing about this location is they sell food! Not just hot dogs like all the other ones do, but actual groceries! I bought pasta sauce, bananas, oranges and cookies here today. Crazy. Maybe they all carry groceries now, and I just haven't been here in years which is true, but this was an exciting addition. The HEMA and the Blokker are go to spots for 'stuff' that you need.

I've been looking for a couch for weeks now, and with some degree of urgency as I've recently moved…read moreout of a semi-furnished house and therefore have. no. couch. Becoming frustrated by the trips out of town and the awful "furniture boulevards" (just don't), I was beginning to think I may be living gypsy style forever. Then I stumbled upon Jan van Beek. They have 3+ stories of beautiful design furniture, tables and lighting. Your seating world opens up with myriad possibilities of all the fabric options they have. Their staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and delivery time is considerably less than other stores I have checked with (about five weeks as compared to 8-12). The prices might be a bit higher than in other stores, but in return, you go home with really quality pieces.

In true 'Cristina' fashion, this River Island store was the first shop I visited after landing in…read moreAmsterdam. For context, River Island clothing stores don't exist in the US, but I find myself shopping online using their app often. Before my trip, I purchased a pair of jeans that didn't fit (can someone explain how a US size 2-4 translates to a UK size 10?!) and realized I couldn't return them from the US. Instead, I tracked down a River Island store near Dam Square and set out on a quest to get my $50 back lol. So, back to the review... I stopped by just in time since the store is actually closing down this month. Almost everything was on sale, from swimwear to formalwear. I got a gorgeous summer dress for 10€ (originally €65) and a cute pair of corduroy pants for 10€ (originally €40). I was also able to process my international return with the lovely cashiers who were VERY patient as they processed a return for merchandise sold to me in GBP, charged to my card in USD, with a mandatory return to my card of EUR. Say that 3 times fast. Enough to confuse anyone, but they made it happen without any complaints (and we had a good laugh about it afterwards). If you're roaming around Dam Square and need some retail therapy, visit River Island before they close!