IN THIS SECTION:
Sewing - sewing machines, fabrics, notions
Crafts & hobbies
Knitting, needlepoint & handiwork
Painting, drawing & design
You will be able to continue with your crafts and hobbies while in the Netherlands but buying your bits & bobs will take a bit of hunting around the various stores to find what you want. There are no craft or sewing superstores here, but a fairly reasonable selection of smaller specialty stores.
There are a many items that you will not find at either the craft, knitting, sewing or fabric stores but at the local markets. Top
Sewing stores are split into Machine (Naaimachines) and Fabric (modestoffen or stoffenwinkel) stores. Machine stores both sell and service machines and stock a range of additional items including scissors, buttons, thread, zips, pins, cord etc. They are separate from fabric stores, which don't stock machines or provide machine services but do stock the bric-a-brac as well as fabric. Machine stores can be found in pretty much all shopping centres and several in the city centre of Rotterdam, fabric stores however are a little harder to find.
Fabric (Stoffen)
Schroder Stoffenhandel
Coolsingel 79, 3012AE. Centrum
Naaimachines
There are 13 stores in the Rotterdam centre area, the stores stock a variety of models and makes of sewing machines and overlockers and sell a basic range of sewing notions, you can also have your machines serviced at these stores. You can search in Goudengids under 'Naaimachines' to get the full listing. Below is a selection:
Van Doorn Naaimachines
Meent 124, 3011JS
Matson Naaimachine Speciaalzaak
Meent 23a, 3011JB. Matson have three stores in Rotterdam.
Klein Naaimachines
Kleiweg 103-B, 3051GL
There are quite a few crafty stores around the Rotterdam region stocking a fairly good selection of all things craft. Pipoos seem to have the most stores and stock a basic range of scrapbooking supplies. You will find most of what you are looking for (including papers, stamps, dowels, beads, scissors, tapes, felts etc) in these stores.
Most of the craft stores sell polystyrene balls in varying sizes for making pomanders, decorating & craft projects, however they don't stock things like bulk bags of polystyrene beads for sewing projects like beanbags etc, neither do the sewing stores. For this sort of item and (anything upholstery related), you will have to go to the Rotterdam central market on Tuesday and Saturdays, or Zuidplein market on a Wednesday.
There are some lovely boutique stores catering to this part of the creative spectrum. For knitting and needlepoint try:
Lialiane Wol en Handworkhuis: Goudesingel 231a, 3031EK
Has a great array of wool, needlepoint wool and cotton, printed canvases, framing, linen
Wolle Willy: Wolphaertsbocht 285, 3083MP Rotterdam
Pronkjuweel, Kralen Sieraden Accessories: Pannekoekstraat 35a, 3011LC
Gorgeous selection of beads and strings with plenty of ideas of what to do. There is a side room where you can create, or simply purchase and take away with you.
Due to the large student population and the Hoogeschool Rotterdam, the art stores are very good and stock a comprehensive range of supplies.
Beek Art Supplies BV: Hoogstraat 58/64, 3011 PT, Rotterdam
Harold’s Grafik: Burg van Walsumweg 730, 3011MZ, Rotterdam
A comprehensive supplier of fine arts supplies, canvas’s, satchels, books, easels, etc.
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