Elandsgracht Amsterdam

This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shop has a rather contrasting reputation. The specialist bar none in decorative elements ranging from borders and trimmings,  through to ropes and laces has become a bit of a legend since it opened for business in 1938. Among its regulars, van de Kerkhof proudly counts the National Ballet Palace het Loo and the Dutch Opera Foundation. How’s that for some casual name dropping? The grandfather of current owner Manuelle originally established the business on the Wolvenstraat, on the other side of the bridge across the Prinsengracht.  The shop only moved to the Elandsgracht in 2010 and was in time handed down to the son, who in time handed the shop down to Manuella, who continues expanding the shop’s service and reputation. Step inside this place and you do actually feel as if you stepped into a different dimension. Such warmth and lovely colours meet your senses here that you walk around in amazement for a while.

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 bio-butcher’s has barely reached middle age, a respectable fourty six years old in 2012, but in a bustling city, specialising in what is still a niche market, that is quite an achievement. The bio-market may still be niche, but owner Niek does see the demand for biological meat grow. Niek inherited the artisanal approach to this profession from his dad Siem, the name that still adorns the front of the shop.  Siem was the co-founder of the ISC ( International Free range meat Control organisation). The traditional approach and work methods is also reflected in the pleasant interior. It is of course, spotless, but it has a hint of authenticity about it, with decorated woodwork, and some stained glass details. The customer truly is king here, as Niek says. Interaction with his customers, and their satisfaction with his productts, is all inherentin Niek’s dedication to his profession. And there is not a  recession or an out-of -commission bridge that will change that.

Hollywood Mark Tattoo was established on the Elandsgracht in 2007, but owner Mark had by then already lived in The Netherlands for fifteen years. The discussion of fate vs coincidence is not one to be had here, but one cannot escape the notion Mark was destined to do what he does, and to end up right here. Mark was spotted in Los Angeles in the 1990s by Dutch tattoo legend Henk Schiffmacher, who was suitably impressed by the young artist’s work. So much so that he extended an invitation to join him as an apprentice. Mark jumped at the opportunity and quickly made a name for himself, soaking up the knowledge and skills that are now building and expanding Mark’s own reputation. Moreover, it is in Amsterdam that he met the love of his life. Mark runs a small yet very dedicated business, where no work of art leaves the shop without his own seal of approval. He has tattooed some of the biggest names in both Dutch and worldwide showbusiness, but is very discreet about all of that. He much prefers his work and that of his fellow tattoo artist, speak for themselves. Whether you are looking to get inked, or just want to see where vision and drive can get you, if you are looking for undiluted inspiration, come visit this place.

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.

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.

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.

The Lindemans may rightly be monickered an entrepreneurial tribe. Dozens of family members are entrepreneurs, most of them in some way or form in the Albert Heijn concern. This giant supermarket chain allows people like Lindeman a lot of leeway to personalise their business, and so they did. Having started back in the day, that is in the latter half of the 19^th century, thankyouverymuch, as a wholesale grocer, on the corner of Hazenstraat and Elandsgracht, the Lindeman family and their branch of Albert Heijn breathe new life into the somewhat dusty cliche of being the pillar of the community on the gracht. Something not lightly earned, and something they themselves would be proud of, although their modesty would strongly reject any such praise. Its sucess is such that family members help out daily, and that sometimes even includes manning a cash register, or assisting a new kid with re-stocking (another effect of its popularity, re-stocking appears to take place around the clock, every day of every week).

Owner Rob left one gallery to spread his wings and start his own in 2007. His gallery, named simply and effectively after himself, specialises in modern jewellery. It is partly the result of the experience Rob had built up in his previous gallery and partly the realisation of turning what was already a hobby into a profession. He convinced some of the artists that he already represented to come with him, but had to re-establish himself  by doing the rounds to sign new names to his business. Thanks to his extensive network and his familiarity with the Rietveld Academy, and other such places, this did not take too long. To his surprise and joy, his name and reputation still attracts both the more established artists and the new generation of artists.