Elandsgracht Amsterdam

HP Horlogerie is one of the true jewels on the Elandsgracht. Especially for the connoisseurs and fans of beautiful watches, who know what they’re after and are aware of how hard to find some watches can be. Leave it to founder and owner Henk to find such rarities. Back in 1990, having already spent several years plying his trade selling his goods at markets right here in Amsterdam, Henk decided to set up a shop in antique furniture. As the space at Elandsgracht 38 became available, Henk didn’t need to think twice. His business did well, but even so, after the better part of a decade, Henk performed an experiment by putting a rare and beautiful watch in the display window. It sold within days. He repeated this several times and then decided to focus on watches exclusively. Another decade on and his reputation – and therefore his business- is flourishing. He is a welcome presence on both internet for a and watch fairs around Europe. His excellent service and range of watches make him a favourite among many returning customers. The shop window and the shop itself are a sight to behold. Come witness for yourself, whether you can barely afford the small dial on a Rolex, or intend to purchase a Breitling from the early 20th century, it never hurts to look.

This  garage-turned-pharmacy was a welcome addition to the gracht when it got here in 2006 and has proven one of those places that people like coming back to. You listen to general manager Conny and it all sounds so straightforward: it is all about product knowledge and honesty. Her personnel is supposed to know what they’re talking about if they are to offer reliable advice to their customers. The fact that they get to try all new products is not only a great way of achieving this, the staff take great pleasure in it, too. Their modest yet professional attitudes make Etos a great place to wander around in. Browse at your leisure without feeling accosted by pushy people looking for a quick sale. The Etos employees had rather they gave you good advice without selling you something then making you buy something that does not really benefit you. Result: a steadily growing number of regulars as well as new customers. Common sense is good business.

Linger real estate is a quiet presence on the Elandsgracht. Its modest store window and shopfront belie the ambitions and aspirations of its owners and employees. Now that Linger have a second office in the southeastern part of the city and five full time employees, they cover the whole of Amsterdam. Whereas other realtors have only recently – forced by dire economic circumstances – started paying closer attention to the needs and wants of their clients and offer more personalised service, Linger have embraced these elementary business principles since it first opened its doors. Linger have managed to spot opportunities in less fortunate times. It is precisely because of this combination of  business savvy and optimism that Linger continues to welcome more and more clients, mostly via word of mouth among expats and people with limited spending power.

It would be too easy to write something cheesy about this store. So we won’t. Instead, please come and meet Edwin and Henk, the business partnership who successfully started, and still run; five Kaashuis Tromp shops all across Amsterdam. Atypically, and fortunately for customers, none of these feel like a franchise formula. The duo train their personnel on the job in all things cheese related, and regularly organise tastings so their staff know what they’re selling and can inform their customers accordingly. Advice and experience are key to these busy and passionate cheese connaisseurs. This is reflected in all aspects of the shop interior. It looks inviting, and gives you an appetite. Plus, all employees are both willing and able to advise you on their selection. That,  no matter what shop you’re in and no matter how often you’ve experienced it, always remains a pleasure. Who needs advertising with that kind of reputation?

Johnny, the owner of the coffeeshop that bears his name, started his career peddling fresh vegetables on markets around the city.  Until he decided one day to go into business for himself. Fast forward twenty-odd years and this place still exists. The interior is small but tidy and organised and a faint, sweet smell lingers in the air. It has a separate, closed off smoking area, installed to comply with the latest regulations on smoking in public places. Johnny found the location at Elandsgracht 3 through the same grapevine Marvin Gaye used to sing about. Once he obtained the necessary permits, Johnny opened its doors and after a short warm up period, the business started doing well. Celebrities like the Ramones and several American movie actors have walked through the doors here, looking for a Dutch treat, shall we say. The closure of numerous coffeeshops around Amsterdam obviously did not hurt Johnny and despite ever stricter regulations, this is one coffeeshop that isn’t about to roll over and play dead.

Balthazar’s Keuken is located in an old smithy. The atmosphere inside is decidely French. The inviting interior is humble and modest, but belies a very good cuisine indeed. Catering for two shifts each evening, the chef decides the menu, leaving the customer to choose between meat or fish for a main course. With the advent of the internet as a public forum, amateur critics were given an arena to vent their often not-too-subtle opinions from the safe, anonymous confines of their own living room. In that regard, it could be considered no small miracle that any negative notes about this place are very, very hard to come by indeed. Then again, it should not be considered a miracle at all if you execute a restaurant concept as well as owners Alain Parry and Karin Gaasterland did here. The success of Balthazar’s Keuken can, and should therefore be considered purely the result of fresh ingredients such as originality, hard work, attention to detail and caring about their customers.  Add to that the consistenly very high standard of food that is produced in this kitchen, and, as many other businesses along the Elandsgracht demonstrate every day: quality always prevails. Opened only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, reserving your table in time is highly recommended –  more often than not, this place is fully booked.

Owner Stef Comman is a third generation bicycle repairman. Both his grandfather and his father were in the business before him. As a teenager, Stef never really fancied a career fixing bikes. Until he started lending a hand in the shop on busy days.  His dad, not about to have his own son as his apprentice, sent Stef to some of the biggest names in the business to learn the trade. Once he was qualified, Stef went to work for his dad, and now, nearly twenty years on, Stef runs the place, with a passion and interest he’d not imagined possible as a young lad. He welcomes his customers with a joke and friendly banter, but as everyone who steps into his shop soon finds out, the advice he offers is never less than sound, honest and professional. Talk to him for more than five minutes and it becomes clear this man loves what he does. And as he witnessed the biggest brands in the business starting to use inferior materials on their bikes in a desparate attempt to survive the economic downturn, he grew frustrated but also determined not to go along with that. So he started a brand in his own name: superior materials, amazing design, and best of all: manufactured locally, Stef Comman has virtually guaranteed his name and survival. He will not bike gently into the night, that much is certain.

Kwik Fix Massage is located at Elandsgracht number 61 A and has been for many years. It has been run by Chinese entrepreneurs ever since it first opened its doors. In August 2012, Alice took over and she immediately made an impact, turning the business into a highly praised and respectable massage parlor. What draws people in and keeps them coming back is the combination of expertise and a modest, polite atmosphere. As a result, Kwik Fix’s  service and attitude speak louder and clearer than any expensive advertising campaign. Unlike the reputation that comes with so many massage parlors that litter Amsterdam lately, Kwik Fix prides itself on essentials such as hygiene, modesty, meditative quietness and sobriety. The highly trained, polite staff  who are multi-lingual to boot, are all experts in traditional Chinese massage. They will do their utmost to have you walk out the door feeling refreshed and as relaxed as can be.  With its door open seven days a week, from noon until 10pm, it caters to even the busiest of schedules.

Unlike some of the tanning salon’s most avid visitors, this place is rather inconspicuous and that works just fine for owner Coby. For a solid 25 years, this tanning place, has built its reputation, slowly expanding its services over the years, becoming more and more of a full blown beauty salon. The salon moved to a great new place on nr. 101, where it uses every square centimeter for its impressive array of sunbeds, wood panelled cabins and reclining massage chairs. The place offers handy frequent visitor cards at special rates. Not that it really needs to lure customers in. Once you’ve been once, odds are considerable that you will be back for more.