For more serious collecting, head over the Kaisergracht canal and visit Van Nie Antiquaires. You’ll be warmly greeted by Frans Van Nie’s lovable lab as you enter this two-level shop specializing in Dutch furniture, ceramics and works of art. Most impressive are the Delft garnitures, fabulous sets of covered urns and vases for mantel or shelf. This blue-and-white group of ceramics is comprised of three baluster vases and two beaker vases featuring floral painting and lids surmounted by Foo dogs. The vast array of European antiques at Prinsheerlijk Antiques is housed in an 1,800-square-foot shop that could outfit an entire house in Continental style. Antique clocks and barometers are the specialty of the house at Van Dreven. Next door, Kunstzalen A. Vecht, a past exhibitor at TEFAF, deals in 19th- and early 20th-century paintings, European sculpture, furniture and ceramics. Discover more fine decorative arts with a listing of 100 specialist dealers through their Web site: www.spiegelkwartier.nl.

To rest after a day of shopping, try The Dylan, located amid the canal houses on Keizersgracht. Originally designed as the luxurious Blakes Hotel by British interior design Anouska Hempel, it has lost none of its trademark lush minimalism. Experience Dutch design in the hotel’s seductive bar/lounge area designed by FG Stijl. You can also choose hotel options from small one-star pods to five-star suites at the Lloyd Hotel in the trendy Eastern Docklands.

An Amsterdam must-see is the Rijksmuseum; no matter how many times you may have visited, it is always a treat. Keep in mind that renovation is continuing until mid-year, so the limited gallery space is generally packed; however, the exhibition of masterpieces is a glorious spectacle of brilliant art. The "Cliff’s Notes" version of the Rijksmuseum at Schiphol, an elegant glass-walled space above the famously well-organized airport, is a great stop for one last hit of art before your flight home.

A.A. Knoop
011.31.65.240.5190
droog at home
011.31.20.523.5059 droogdesign.nl
Frozen Fountain
011.31.20.622.9375 frozenfountain.nl
Kunstzalen A. Vecht
011.31.20.623.4748 artonline.nl/vecht
Lloyd Hotel
011.31.20.561.3636 lloydhotel.com
Prinsheerlijk Antiques
011.31.20.638.6623 prinsheerlijkantiques.com
Rijksmuseum
011.31.20.674.7000 rijksmuseum.nl
The Dylan
011.31.20.530.2010 dylanamsterdam.com
Van Dreven Antiquair
011.31.20.428.8442 artonline.nl/dreven
Van Nie Antiquairs
011.31.20.626.1594 vannieantiquairs.com