City Guide: Amsterdam

And Studio Visit With Camiel Fortgens

Any well-traveled town is much better seen through the eyes of the locals. We met up with the Camiel Fortgens team for a whirlwind tour of the birthplace of their brand, Amsterdam, which included a bike + camera rental for myself and many delicious bites and incredible vintage shops along the way. We did our best to convey the experience here, but keep the list in mind next time you’re able to make it over to the Netherlands. You know, there is a nonstop from PDX to AMS…

Camiel Fortgens Studio & Shop

By appointment at Doctor Jan van Breemenstraat 1, 1056 AB Amsterdam

Tucked away in a neighborhood in West Amsterdam, in a charming former school, the Camiel Fortgens studio sits amongst other artists and designers. Ceramics, handmade furniture, and artwork fill the halls, the detritus common to all shared artistic studio spaces. Inside the studio is a tiny room, walls created out of muslin, with a mirror and a single long garment rack. This is the Camiel Fortgens shop, available for visitors to shop by appointment during studio hours. Incredibly charming and well worth the visit.

Waterlooplein Markt

Nieuwmarkt 4, 1012 CR Amsterdam

A pickers paradise, this is a vintage clothing market in central Amsterdam is where Camiel regularly goes vintage picking. This is the source for his collection of vintage clothing and archives, seen in his studio, and offers design inspiration for his collections.

Amsterdamsche Vischhandel

Zeedijk 129, 1012 AW Amsterdam

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This one is for my stinky fish lovers! A small spot near the Nieuwmarkt neighborhood that serves the traditional Dutch herring snack. Watch the fishmonger delicately filet and slice the cured herring (not pickled) and serve it on small paper plates with raw onions, pickles, and a toothpick. Traditionally, the fish is held by the tail above the mouth and eaten in a few bites, but this shop does us the favor of slicing it onto a plate. Not a snack for everyone, but worth the experience for the more adventurous eaters.

Zipper Vintage Clothing

Huidenstraat 7, 1016 ER Amsterdam

This is the vintage store specializing in American clothing is where Camiel worked in high school and discovered his love for clothing. He studied design at University, so we can assume that his time spent at the Zipper was a formative experience for him.

Madé Van Krimpen Gallery

Prinsengracht 615H, 1016 HT Amsterdam

A contemporary gallery in central Amsterdam was showing this superb collection of paintings by artist Ayşen Kaptanoğlu. Ayşen's works investigate power dynamics, sexuality and gender, asking questions around violence, its origins and structures that reproduce it.

Afura

Vijzelgracht 13, 1017 HM Amsterdam

This shop in central Amsterdam carries a great selection of contemporary designers and is the sole local stockist of Camiel Fortgens, outside of their shop.

Kantjil & De Tijger

Spuistraat 291 A, 1012 VS Amsterdam

There is a vibrant community of Indonesian folks in the Netherlands and there are some great Indonesian restaurants in Amsterdam. I highly recommend going with a group and sharing all of the dishes.