Earlier this month I came back from The Netherlands and thought I’d give a round up of 5 must-see decor stores when visiting The Netherlands. There were literally a zillion places that I really, really enjoyed visiting but if you only have a few days and you want to visit some lovilee and big chain-stores that have not made their way to South Africa in terms of decor, these ones are a MUST! This was the second time that I was fortunate to visit this lovilee country and I am so grateful to friendy Liezel from Match Set Love for all her time and awesome navigation skills taking me everywhere I wanted to go!
1. IKEA
Don’t even get me started on IKEA, I have raved about this place since my first visit to one of these stores in France a few years back and it is just as amazing as I remembered. This store I visited is situated just outside the hustle and bustle of Haarlem city itself and is accessible by train. IKEA is set up in such a way that you enter the shop and visit the whole store by following the one-way passage and arrows leading throughout the different store sections.
Upon entering the store you are greeted with a lifestyle section of real rooms decorated only with items that can be purchased throughout the rest of the store. Kitchens, bedrooms, dining and living room areas, even smaller patio sections to inspire and get you ready for the next section – Furniture and bigger decor items. Next up are the smaller items and storage that you can start loading into your shopping bags and then lastly the big warehouse where you can collect the flatpak furniture items that you desire.
The store also boasts a coffee shop halfway through the shopping trip as well as at the end that sells affordable food items and beverages. Visit the IKEA website. Managed to flatpack this IKEA SKOGSTA stool in my suitcase.
2. HEMA
This might be my favorite shop I visited in The Netherlands to date. Think paperie, gifting, clothing, decor and more, all under one roof and very very well priced! I LOVED this store, upon entering there was a stationary section that I emptied out – washi tape, gift bags, tags and gift paper. Little note books, paperclips, you name it!
There were plenty of other lovilee items that included light boxes and clothing items and accessories for little people. Their bedding was also stunning!!! I could have brought quite a few options home with me. HEMA almost reminds me of our Clicks stores paired with Typo if that makes sense at all? Visit the HEMA website.
3. Casa
This shop that I found in Haarlem is the bees knees, it was filled with the most pretty Easter items and table top decorations that I really coveted. There is a decor item for every room in the home, from the kitchen to outdoors to home offices and dining rooms. Their metal letterboards had me, but alas… After reading the Marie Kondo book, I refused to buy another. What I did buy though is one of their table clamps and I cannot wait to use it for a styled shoot of sorts!
View their website for more.
4. Søstrene Grenes
Liezel and I made a very special trip to Amsterdam to visit Søstrene Grenes and it did not disappoint at all. Everything in the shop is pastel prettiness and I had to contain myself to not buy a whole lot of pretties. Their current range and catalogue focusses on the great outdoors. There were gorgeous hammocks, flower swings, pretty planters and all the pretty party items that you can dream of creating a party or special event setting.
The company was born in Denmark by husband and wife couple – The personalities of Anna and Clara are based on two historical figures from the Grene family. Anna is a creative aesthete, while her sister Clara is practical and organised – together, these two sisters represent all that Søstrene Grene is and has to offer. This lovilee store also has a blog section attached that is filled with DIYs, recipes and inspiration.
The thumbnail image is also a DIY that they posted online.
5. Sissy Boy Homeland
The perfect fusion between great taste and great decor. This store is gorgeously laid out and I visited 3 of these, all uniquely different, yet the same. The one section having clothing and then the other decor items. Items that they had available were unique and pretty items like egg cups, planters, frames and throws. There was also a smaller section with kids decor items and clothing – everything items that were totally swoon-worthy.
Visit the Sissy Boy decor website for more decor inspo.
We are obviously really privileged to have such stores as H&M now in South Africa (at the V&A Waterfront as well as Mall of Africa) as well as ZARA home, so if you want to get a head start before visiting The Netherlands for decor finds… Get to one of these! And remember off-course that you can purchase a selected number of items from IKEA via Myflatpack here in South Africa.
My tips for shopping in Europe
- Wear comfortable flat shoes that will enable you to walk (or shop) for miles.
- Always take foldable and re-useable shopping bags with you.
- Make a list of must-find or items you are on the lookout for beforehand. I really got side-tracked :).
- Plan your shopping route beforehand. Fortuanately Liezel could navigate me around the city!
- Not all of the stores accept Mastercard of Visa cards, so I always carried some cash with me.
Some other lovilee finds include
- The Yoghurt Barn that you can visit, great coffee, healthy eats and stunning decor!
- No Lemons Please a lovilee decore store in Sandtpoort-Noord
- Kuierkos, a South African store in Bloemendal
- Xenos, a budget friendly decor store filled to the brim with pretty stationery and gifts.
- And if you are ever there in Spring you HAVE TO visit Annemieke’s pluktuin to get up close and personal with some tulips!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION Find out all you need about a Visa from South Africa to the Netherlands from VFS Global. Remember to also double check your allowance for bringing items into you r country.
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3 Comments
Oh, how absolutely lovilee this trip has been! Thank you!!
Such a wonderful round-up KaRi! It was lovely to visit ALL of these (and many, many more stores) with you!
thank you friendy!