Unique Gifts in Amsterdam for Sinterklaas & the Holidays 2026 (That Aren't Souvenirs)

Sinterklaas is on 5 December, the canals are about to light up, and you still haven't found that one gift that isn't a fridge magnet or a stroopwafel tin. Good news: Amsterdam is full of design that never made it to the souvenir stands. Here's our guide to unique gifts in Amsterdam, from a €12 bookmark to a workshop you can give as an experience.

What people in Amsterdam want from a gift

Scroll through Amsterdam gift guides or Sinterklaas searches and the same wishes keep coming back: something original rather than touristy, something with a clear price tag (under €25 and under €50 are the big ones), and more and more often, an experience instead of another thing on the shelf. We built this guide around exactly those three.

Gifts under €25

Sinterklaas surprises and secret Santas live here. Small, well designed and easy to wrap:

• Aphrodite bookmark (€12), available in petrol blue, yellow, hot pink, mint and red. Perfect for the reader who has everything else.
• Kitchen Cat Towel (€21) Made from 100% woven cotton, the towel features a collection of cats determined to be helpful in the kitchen. 
• Daily To Do List - Mist (€19), to write your goals, dreams thoughts and plans. Also available in the colors Autumn and Sapphire

More ideas: all gifts under €25.

Gifts under €50

• Mion Mugs (€45), colourful, playful and different in every glaze. Yes, there is a Puffin Egg one.
• Day planner AM-PM (€28) in taupe or sapphire, for the friend who wants a calmer 2027.
• Travel tumbler 350 ml (€38) for the daily commute (and the daily canal walk).

Browse the full gifts under €50 collection.

For the home, the art lover and the dog owner

Some people are hard to buy for. For them, go for character.

• Cat Nesting Dolls (€49)by Midori Komatsu: five cat breeds that fit inside each other.
  Read the story of the illustrator behind them.
• Stash Jar in Sunset (€55), a small object that makes any shelf look considered.
• The last stool by Max Lamb, a design piece for the person who really has everything.

Dog people, this one is for you: the dog throw blanket by Studio Arhoj is large enough for you and your dog(s) (134 x 185 cm, without the frills).

Want something for the cosy evenings ahead? Have a look at our OIMU incense sticks and burners and the candles, incense and holders.

Give an experience: creative workshops in Amsterdam

Making something together is fast becoming the alternative to yet another dinner out, and it works as a gift, a date or a birthday plan. In our Amsterdam workshops you leave with something you made yourself:

• Lino print workshop (from €65)
• Darkroom photography workshop (€49)
• Glass art workshop (€80)
• Pumpkin Carving Night (€25), a fun one for the Halloween season

See all dates on our workshops page.

Amsterdam's gift-giving season: dates to remember

• 15 November: Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam (the national arrival is the day before, on 14 November, in Grave)
• 26 November – 17 January: Amsterdam Light Festival, 15th edition, with a brand-new route along the canals
• 5 December: Sinterklaas
• Until 17 January: the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum. Read our Kusama guide and combine it with a shopping trip.

Visit us in Amsterdam or shop online

We're a Dutch lifestyle brand and concept store with two locations in Amsterdam, and we focus on smaller brands and makers you won't find elsewhere in the Netherlands.

• Nieuwe Hoogstraat 29: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 to 18:00, Sunday 13:00 to 18:00
• Singel 393: Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 18:00, Sunday 13:00 to 18:00

Can't make it? Shop online with free shipping on orders over €75 in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, and a 30-day return policy. Planning a route? Our neighbours around Nieuwmarkt are worth a stop too: 3 cool shops to discover around Nieuwmarkt.

FAQ: unique gifts in Amsterdam

Where can I buy unique gifts in Amsterdam?

At independent concept stores like Polycurios, with locations at Nieuwe Hoogstraat 29 and Singel 393, or online at polycurios.com. Look for shops that stock small brands and local artists rather than mass-produced souvenirs.

What is a good Sinterklaas gift under €25?

A design bookmark (€12), a linoprint by a local artist (from €25) or a small frame (from €23) all fit the budget, and they feel more personal than a gift card.

Do you ship outside the Netherlands?

Yes, orders over €75 ship for free to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Can I give a workshop as a gift?

Yes. Our lino, darkroom photography and glass art workshops can be booked online. Check the workshops page for the current dates.

Prices and opening hours were correct at the time of writing. Check polycurios.com for the latest.