Concept stores are everywhere nowadays, and luckily also in Haarlem.

A concept store basically sells more than just one type of product and usually you can also sit down and enjoy a coffee.

Concept stores are often located a bit off the beaten track, and therefore harder to find if you don’t know your way around a city.

To help you get on your way, This is Haarlem presents our Top 5 of concept stores.

Portrait – Raamvest 29a

This store is one of my favorites in Haarlem. I love how they have used the character of the building (it used to be an old stable for horses) to their advantage: lots of brick walls, pipes and unfinished stucco. Their main focus is on fashion, both for men and women and always from the nicest Scandinavian brands. Besides clothes they sell interior accessories, furniture, books and cosmetics. They also invite people to come work at their store, so if you need to answer some emails during your stay, this could be the perfect spot to do so.

NYHAVN – Koningstraat 15

NYHAVN is a special concept store in that it only sells sustainable products. Sustainability is a popular word nowadays and in my opinion it is not always used in a correct fashion, but I like what they are doing here at NYHAVN. Products are either fair trade, vintage or made from reused materials. They sell clothing, bags, blankets, vintage furniture and jewelry. Their coffee and sweat treats like banana bread are organic and usually homemade. 

This is Gather – Kruisweg 68b

‘A retail space with the point of view of a magazine’. This is how This is Gather presents itself. Their main goal is to be a platform for startups, young designers and basically anyone with an innovative idea. The result is a store that is packed with beautiful and original things, from handmade shoes, leather aprons, stationary and art work. And because a concept store without coffee wouldn’t really be a concept store, you can also get your daily caffeine fix here.

Mashed – Kleine Houtstraat 19

Mashed is a concept store with locations in both Amsterdam and Haarlem. So, what to find here? Well, what about basic striped tops for the whole family, the coolest socks, liquid soaps from Dr. Bronner, jewelry, bags, more clothes. I guess you get the picture.

De Wereld van Jansje – Grote Houtstraat 45

De Wereld van Jansje is not your average concept store. With that I mean that you probably won’t find the hippest and newest things in here (as you might expect from such a store). But what you do find at Jansje is making it worth a visit. Everything here is focused around the theme of social sustainability. So from the products sold to the people working there. Hidden in the back, there is a cafe where you can have a coffee (they also serve an organic lunch).

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