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.

Key Color is the kind of shop you might walk past without a second glance. Which is perfectly understandable, considering its non-flashy exterior. That is not to say however, that what is on the inside is not impressive. Quite the contrary. This fifteen year old business is the result of a man who, having learned the tricks of the photography trade at Kodak, decided to set up shop himself. That way he could put into practice his own ideas about service and customer interaction. Can you call such a thing a gamble when you know this is bound to be a success? People from Belgium and Gemany find their way to Frits’s shop, so the answer to that question seems obvious.  Frits does it all, whether you need quick passport pictures done, or looking for a floor-to-ceiling print of an image you found somewhere, Frits is your man. His clients range from the elderly lady down the street to big multinationals. You can come in here to print off images from a memory card, but Frits won’t let you leave until he’s made sure the images look the best they can – manually correcting them where necessary or desired. Service as it was meant to be.

You know the kind of store where you wander past, you, stop, walk back feeling unexplicably intrigued and just go in to explore? Right, well, new addition Gr8cht is exactly this kind of shop and that alone makes it a wonderful addition to the Elandsgracht. It opened for business in April 2012, when entrepreneur Jos decided on the location here. The things on display make you happy just by looking at them, so presumably even happier by buying them. Which is precisely how Jos, owner of the place, decides her inventory: she bases her decision on what to sell on what she likes. And it does not take an expensive marketing guru to state that it’s a lot easier -and more fun- to sell things that you are excited about. The products she sells range from clothing, scented candles and soap to sturdy yet elegant dining tables and delicate interior decorations. Another lovely thing about this shop – you can spend a little or a lot, depending on your taste and budget.

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.

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.

Studio Stroop is all about passion, craftsmanship and diversity. Three concepts that virtually all businesses along the Elandsgracht have in common. Business is good, as its growing clientele is as diverse as its treatments and range of products. 20somethings rub shoulders with octogenarians,  the rich mingle with the less rich,  locals or people from way outside the city limits – they all find their way to the Studio. What matters most to owner Wilfred is to make someone feel better and more confident after a treatment because ultimately, confidence and feeling comfortable give a person true beauty, Wilfred says. It makes perfect sense. You connect with it because that is how you want to be treated. Wilfred employs eight people, all of whom have been trained internally by means of a course that is Studio Stroop’s own. It was devised by Wilfred, who saw this as a great way of spreading his filosophy and creating an unofficial stamp of approval of his Studio and his methods. Besides this shop, he also runs a studio at the very heart of the Dutch broadcasting industry, in Hilversum. Plenty of celebrities pop in there on a regular basis for some treatment or other. All of this together really make any advertising superfluous. The brand speaks for itself by now.

This Rob Peetoom hairdresser is one of fourteen nationwide. The imporium has turned the owner’s name into a widely recognised brand name. Fourteen years ago it opened the shop at number 68 where Vincent Langedijk became creative director. Vincent more or less grew up inside the company, having started out as a trainee at age 17.  The company operates by a certain philosophy: a hair cut works if it matches the customer’s personality. It is all about the individual and his or her uniqueness. Especially in this case, the phrase ‘everyone is unique’ is not a paradox, but something to strive for: highlight that uniqueness in everyone. Moreover, the brand has its own academy that trains its future hair stylists. They are then differentiated in Junior Stylists, Stylists and Senior Stylists, ranked according to experience and ability. They have their own price range, so you decide how much you want to spend on your haircut. It is the focus on what suits every individual, the details of each face and the classy environment that make a trip to Rob Peetoom quite an experience.

Who does not love a place where you can catch up with that neighbour you haven’t spoken in a while, in a shop that not only looks amazing, but smells irresistable? If you answer that with a clever “I”, you obviously have not vistited Arnold Cornelis at number 78. And we in turn will strongly encourage you to do so. Because  it really is a treat. Take a load off, have some coffee to go with one of their mouthwatering treats and your day just got even better than it already was. Joke is one of the driving forces behind the store and can be found behind the counter every day, with an easy smile and a pleasant demeanor. 28 Years and counting has she done this. It’s the regulars that keep coming back for more that has her still loving her work. Arnold Cornelis make and bake all their goods at the very first location they opened: on the van Baerlestraat. So do not expect artificial ingredients, wrapped in mass-produced cakes and tartlets. Do expect the sweet taste of fine patisserie, made with pride.

Sinds 1965, this quiet little business has made quite a name for itself. Over the years it has shown something that is not as common in small business anymore as one would expect or hope: it is reliable. Plain and simple. It cleans your clothes, carpets or even leather and suede items and will even collect and deliver. It has moved to Hazenstraat 65 early in 2012, but considering its track record and, well, the name, we still consider it part of the Elandsgracht. The laundromat’s interior may occasionally look like fifteen closets full of clothes exploded, there is definitely a method to the apparent madness. The owner, Coert, works almost round the clock and does it with a smile and a kind word for everyone who walks into his place. His trusted two assistants are equally dependable and are always in for a quick joke or anecdote about the neighbourhood. Being made to feel like a regular and walking home with a mountain of fresh clean clothes never fails to put a smile on your face.

Nr 118 used to be a car dealer slash gas stop. One of those nice old-fashioned ones, typically seen in small villages, with one or two rusty gas pumps out front. Just like the space the new Antique Center across the street is now based in, this place is amazingly big too. This kind of space really is only suitable for one other purpose: a supermarket. So, that’s what Ekoplaza, the supermarket that exclusively sells organic food, turned it into. The beauty of Ekoplaza is that it did not try to cram as much products in there as possible. Instead, wide aisles make for convenient and easy navigating your way around. And still their range of products is virtually endless. From liquorish to soap, you name it, Ekoplaza carries it. Storemanager Ronald has run this supermarket since 2013. Ekoplaza is on the move with over 50 Ekoplaza’s across the country, proving that buying organic is not just another fad – it’s another lifestyle.